Superbad

Though he’s only listed as a producer this time around, Judd Apatow’s unique comedic sensibilities are all over Superbad and the movie consequently fits comfortably within the context of his free-wheeling, thoroughly distinctive body of work. Written by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg, the film transpires over the course of one very long night – as high school buddies Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) encounter a whole host of obstacles and quirky characters while attempting to procure alcohol for a graduation party. There’s little doubt that Superbad works best in its relatively low-key opening scenes, which feature an emphasis on Seth and Evan’s raunchy (and often hilarious) conversations; armed with the screenplay’s clever, unmistakably R-rated dialogue, Cera and Hill infuse the early part of the movie with a palpable sense of authenticity that proves impossible to resist. It’s only when the characters are split up during the film’s episodic midsection that one’s interest starts to flag, as it becomes increasingly difficult to care about their individual misadventures (eg Evan is forced to belt out a tune for a room full of stoners). And although the movie does recover for an admittedly effective finale, there’s simply no denying that Superbad is simply unable to hold the viewer’s interest through the entirety of its distinctly overlong running time.

**1/2 out of ****