Go see any film with Judd Apatow’s name attached to it. The writer/director of “The 40-Year Old Virgin” and this summer’s most unexpected hit, “Knocked Up,” is among the producers of “Superbad,” which takes a no-holds-barred approach to the teenage sex comedy the funniest and raunchiest film of 2007.
The film owes a little to “American Pie,” but unlike that film, “Superbad” could rightfully end up on some critics’ year-end top-10 lists. It’s certainly the year’s funniest and raunchiest film.
It stars Michael Cera (from TV’s “Arrested Development”), Jonah Hill (“Knocked Up”) and droll newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse as codependent best friends determined to embark on a nightlong, rambunctious, alcohol-fueled, virginity-losing journey. The jokes come fast and frequent, and the three teens can’t seem to catch a break until “McLovin” comes into the picture. Many of the funniest lines come from Hill, whose vulgar dialogue is offset by a timeless, genuine, uproarious delivery.
Director Greg Mottola, who hasn’t been seen since 1996’s vastly underrated “The Daytrippers,” crafts a romp stuck on overdrive and keeps the laughs coming from all directions. The film loses momentum at the halfway mark, dragging in the middle with a series of sight gags and scenes that go nowhere.
By the end, though, the film’s characters capture a vibrant youth and stay with you long after the film has ended. “Superbad” will become a cult hit and, in no time, others are destined to spew its filthy catchphrases for years to come.
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