The title is fitting. Like many comedies today, Superbad seems like its funny but its actually not - its just foul. Trading foul gags for real laughs isn't new, its been going on in mainstream films since I've been alive. As of late, however, the sheer number of comedies that are lacking in any real inventiveness and identifiable humor is on the rise.

This is a comedy for people who don't know any better - meaning teenagers. Sure, I sound like a snob, then again, I am one. Enjoying lukewarm slop like this is akin to being thrilled over hocking down a Whopper. If you don't know what real cuisine tastes like, the greasy slab probably seems good. The writing is horrible, and has nothing to say. The acting by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera is passable, and not noteworthy. The film as a whole is crude, childish and short on intelligence. Many critics have stated that this film is heartwarming on a certain level, I missed this completely. The characters are too thin to give enough depth to become heartwarming. The truth be told, I kept sitting there waiting for the movie to get better. It never did me the favor. My inability to connect with the film of course may be due to the fact that I'm not in the film's demographic, but then again, if the film was well written, that wouldn't matter.

Anyone who's seen any of the stupid teenage sex comedies of the 1980's, The Last American Virgin leaps to mind, you'll find very familiar ground covered here. If you're interested in seeing what lowbrow crud is being passed on to the consumer these days, you may want to give it a look. Other than academic curiosity, you're probably best just avoiding this one.


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