Superbad

I don't get Judd Apatow films. Intellectually, I can appreciate how people would find his films funny. I can accept the argument that he has elevated comedy to a new level of intelligence. Freaks and Geeks was a favorite of mine during it's brief run on NBC. But his films--from The 40 Year Old Virgin to Anchorman--elicit barely a single laugh from me. The best I can say is that his films have touching resolutions that almost justify the blandness of the previous two hours.

Of course, none of that would stop me from seeing yet another Judd Apatow produced film. Superbad...strong reviews, appealing cast...This might be the one, right? Wrong. It kept me disinterested until the last moments. The thing is, I like a penis joke as much as the next guy. And the dozens of them in Superbad were clearly landing with the audience. But to what end?

The concept behind Superbad is the tried and true we're-going-off-to-college-we're-going-to-miss-each-other-terribly-and-oh-yes-we-need-to-get-laid teen-oriented, heartfelt comedy. Seth and Evan promise the objects of their affection--well, lust--that they will bring the booze to the super-awesome party that evening. Along with the wacky adventures of two teens trying to by alcohol, they get to process all of the feelings of two friends since childhood going to separate colleges. Throw in the equally wacky, though largely gratuitous, adventures of their pseudo-friend McLovin, and you get a typical teen comedy plus.

I must admit, I may have missed some of the dialog as "Guy Love" from Scrubs: the Musical kept playing louder and louder in my head. The "we're not gay, we're close" moments we're thankfully short, and the awkwardness of two straight guys who love each other trying to demonstrate affection for each other was only slightly forced.

What works is more a product of the sensitivity and finess of the three actors. Michael Cera has great subtlety and a sweet range of emotion; Jonah Hill is over the top, but mostly appropriately so--but he never made me laugh; Christopher Mintz-Plasse did. It's only seconds before CM-P is the new Jon Heder.

In the end, though I never quite got it, the last scenes make the film worth it. Though the plot is forced, the emotion feels real, and that makes the film's conclusion satisfying.