Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Super Bad

also known as “Superbad,” “Maiali dietro ai banchi,” “Supersugen”
MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA) for pervasive crude and sexual content, strong language, drinking, some drug use and a fantasy/comic violent image—all involving teens.

Reviewed by: Pete Brown
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Teens
Genre: Comedy, Teen
Length: 1 hr. 54 min.
Year of Release: 2007
USA Release: August 17, 2007 (wide)
Copyright, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Columbia Pictures

Drunkenness

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Copyright, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures
Featuring Jonah Hill
Michael Cera
Seth Rogen
Bill Hader
Evan Goldberg
Director Greg Mottola
Producer Seth Rogen
Evan Goldberg
Judd Apatow
Distributor distributor: Columbia Pictures. Trademark logo.
Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony pictures

“Superbad” is the new movie written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg who were also writers on the “Da Ali G Show” along with Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat”). They started writing this script when they were in their early teens, and since the main characters share the same first names, I can’t help but wonder if it’s semi-autobiographical.

The story centers on the friendship of two nerdy high school seniors who spend most of their time together. They dream of a life of love and excitement but for various reasons have been stuck in their comfort zones (a familiar human tension). With the end of high school right around the corner they throw caution to the wind and go all out to get alcohol and have sex with the girls they have been lusting for (another familiar story). The plot thickens when two bad boy cops (“Reno 911” types) cross their path on their quest to get the booze and the girls. Ultimately they get the women they wanted, but not in the way they thought they wanted them. Michael Cera (Evan) seems to discover that what he really wants with Becca goes deep enough that it would be devalued by a drunken sexual encounter. Jules does not drink and tells Seth she wants to wait until he sobers up and see if there is anything to their relationship. Their fake ID carrying, booze-buying buddy “McLovin” plays the funniest most endearing nerd to hit the big screen in a while.

Seth and Evan have a natural geek feel to them and deliver their lines with great timing and genius nerdy expression. The movie was very well cast yet the pacing could have been better at times. I will assume the editing which I found to be distracting and jarring in places was the result of the reels being poorly spliced together at the movie theater and not a lack of quality in post-production. Don’t even get me started on my grievances with the exhibition of films in theaters. It’s no wonder more and more people are watching movies at home these days.

The super bad sexual references in this movie seem to make people blush with embarrassment and bust out laughing at the same time. It was filled with crude language, graphic sexual language, some illegal drug use and big screen illustrations of men’s parts. If you were to wait and rent the DVD to play on your ClearPlay DVD player (which cuts out or mutes content you tell it you don’t what to see) you might end up with a very short movie.

Parents, you have been warned. This is not a flick you want to accompany your young person to see. Awkward sexual moments are part of the shock humor that is becoming a trademark of these writers. It is definitely not a movie for anyone who is not accustomed to a torrent of profanity and shocking sexual content. It really earned its R-rating. It does depict the reality of the mentality many teens and adults have today. Many of the characters are searching for identity, security and pleasure and they will do just about anything to get it. Getting wasted and loosing their virginity are a few obvious things people do to define themselves.

A much more common way the characters in this movie and people in real life try to fit in is the frequent use of profanity. In this film constant cussing seems to make Seth feel powerful and look strong but on closer inspection it seems to reveal his lack of true identity and strength. Without a real spiritual foundation in the Spirit of God, people will try to gain power through what they say and do (soulish realm) as opposed to living with true love and power from the heart (spirit realm).

Violence: Mild / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—First of all, I will agree that this film was offensive! but the writers hit the nail on the head! They tapped into the minds of almost every teen on the planet! I went to see “Superbad” with 3 boys; YES I was the only girl, and through out the whole thing they were laughing at how REAL it was! Roughly everything the characters said they had thought about at least once! Some will like it, some won’t, but if you are a guy, we all know you secretly relate to the characters!
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 4
Lisa, age 20, Ireland
Positive—“Superbad” is a great movie. Also, the content is not too bad for an “R.” …I’ll be adding this to my DVD collection in a few months! 4 Stars
My Ratings: Average / 4½
Jack, age 21
Negative
Negative—I saw this with friends thinking it would have been a unique movie. There is nothing that would make me remember this movie. Besides that, it was full to the brim of cursing, vomit, COCAINE USE and other gross stuff. It was basically kids trying to get liqueur to impress girls they liked. I can’t see any reason for anyone to see this movie. I was offended every other minute by this movie. There were only two points in the movie where I had a good laugh. I think there might be some sort of moral message which is precisely “It is not right to have sex with a person while they are completely drunk.” Which is used for two different characters! Not even creative enough to develop a different moral for each character. That message was barely visible underneath all the cursing and 'young teenage drinking, partying, sex, and drugs are okayay and normal!' This is just an average, dumb teenage high-jinx movies, and you know how those go.
My Ratings: Very Offensive / 3
Heather, age 20
Negative—a lot of crude humor, and the language is bad. Every other word is the f-word.
My Ratings: Offensive / 4
Mclovin, age 25
Negative—This movie was a horrible let down, completely filled with unnecessary vulgar language, being perverse for no reason, and was not funny. Rather it was offensive to those bringing mixed company. A group of us went and all the girls and a surprisingly a lot of the guys found this to be immature and offensive, a few left because of the lack of respect it shows for females. It is shallow and lame. A definite let down. Only the immature would find this to be hilarious. No on should treat situations like they do in this movie. We all give it a big thumbs down!
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 1
Jessica, age 21
Negative—I was actually excited to see this film. I’ve always been more on the “nerdy” side and am proud of it so I thought the idea was actually kind of funny. However, I did not expect the movie to be so offensive. Mostly my fault for not thinking, however I took my girlfriend and a small group of friends and I actually felt sick sitting in the theater. I say this more so because it’s sad that the majority of society supports and embraces what this film promotes. Promiscuity, drunkenness, profanity, adultery are all themes heavily present and promoted through this film. I do not recommend this movie to any viewer. I left this movie feeling as if I lost something. The only redeeming factor was being able to tell my girlfriend and friends how I liked it and why I didn’t, but I could have done that by reading reviews and not subjecting myself to this atrocity.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 3
Nick, age 23
Negative—This movie should be BANNED! It reminds me of people who I attended high school with who thought it was “okay” to have SEX and get INTOXICATED. This movie says, 'Hey, pure youth, let’s all go crazy and not think about consequences or He*l!' The F-Bombs fly around constantly with no regard to the English language and the only reason I stayed for the whole thing is that my Catholic friend was the one driving. I can’t believe movies like this pass for “art” in these days. I warn you: stay away from this secular movie—comedy is NOT funny!
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 5
Zachary McKay, age 20
Negative—I saw this movie with my girlfriend and was embarrassed from the beginning. I was hoping for a coming of age movie and instead was treated to non-stop toilet humor that exploited the worst of my memories of high school. I wanted to walk out but we stayed until the end (the theater was crowded). After the movie my girlfriend and I both felt as if we needed to shower. If you find this movie enjoyable (except for some knee-jerk laughs) then you need to check your spiritual condition.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 4
Victor, age 43
Positive—I do enjoy a good movie every now and then, and while I knew what I would be getting into with “Super Bad,” I decided to venture into the theater and take a peek. First off, people should know that this movie wouldn’t have a chance in anything to get a positive Christian rating. Come on now—you should know by the previews. It still cracks me up when Christians bash movies like these and then talk about how offended they were and they get up and walk about of the movie. What were you expecting? Seriously people. I never laughed so hard during a movie before (well maybe Happy Gilmore), and all the humor was completely teenage humor. Sex, drugs, rock n roll. It pretty much had it all, but still it had a good story in the end about the two friends sticking together. Extremely Offensive for Christians? Of course. But a great movie none the less.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 4½
Martin, age 33
Negative—I love movies, I love laughter. And while I do tend to see funny movies that have certain content, I cringe when I see movies as terrible as this movie was. “Happy Gilmore” was funny, even “Talladega Nights” made me laugh, but this movie seemed to be no more that swearing, drinking, and sex. The humor was very lame; it was done by people trying hard to come up with something outlandish because real humor was out of reach. They even showed a couple of cops to be so dumb they would actually believe a nerdy kid was a cool, tough adult. I can go on and on; bottom line was this movie failed miserably in my opinion. It was so bad I couldn’t even stand to finish the whole movie. This movie is definitely not recommended for anyone younger than 18. Don’t waste your money people.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 3
Troy Mendez, age 31
Negative—This, to date, has been the only movie I’ve ever considered getting up and leaving, and I was only 15 minutes or so into the film. Egad. This movie is disgusting, profane and pervasively so, and degrading. The Seth character is a real sleezeball who sees women as nothing more than sex objects. I don’t recommend seeing this movie to anyone, even if it is funny. Believe me, it’s funny, and I loved the cop characters, but this movie is, IN FACT, super bad. …There were well over 150 f-words, as well as a deluge of other colorful metaphors and rampant vulgar dialogue. It’s a shame, too. This movie was funny, just inundated with irreverent garbage that could have easily been left out.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 3
Jacob Keenum, age 21
Comments from young people
Neutral—This movie is not for the faint at heart. I saw it with my girlfriend and was extremely uncomfortable throughout the movie. The language is profane, the sexual content is explicit, and the moral value is limited. With that being said, it was funny and fairly accurately portrayed the mind-set of typical suburban teenagers. I recognized myself in some of the characters, that is, before I accepted Christ. For parents out there worried that teenagers have no moral compass, the movie is completely remiss of any kids willing to place there faith above sex and alcohol. Those kids do exist and are struggling in world that glorifies those vices. But, obviously the movie was not about that. It was well made and does have characters (e.g. McLovin) who will be the subject of teen discussion for some time. I think there are much better “coming of age” movies (“Diner,” “Y Tu Mama Tabien,” etc…), so I can’t give it a top rating. But, much to the consternation of parents, it will be a popular movie. I encourage my fellow Christian teens to keep spreading the gospel. We know the truth of where teens really need to go.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 3½
Diego Sena, age 17
Neutral—This is one of the most morally offensive movies I’ve seen in quite a while, unfortunately it is also one of the most realistic of America’s teens—and quite frankly, it’s also rather funny. Filled with the most quotable one liners since “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Superbad” is also one of those movies that you really shouldn’t quote. I don’t necessarily recommend this movie, I also don’t fully condemn it. But hear this, if you see this movie and are mortally offended, don’t go getting mad at me! 7/10 violence: mild—language: extreme—sex/nudity: heavy
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 3½
Joshua, age 14
Neutral—First of all, let me say that in no way can I recommend this film for Christians to view. The very first scene is a young man talking to his friend in very graphic terms about which pornographic Web site he is going to subscribe to, and why; the movie just gets more crude from there. There is teen sex and drinking, pornographic images, drug use, and all manner of illegal and/or immoral activity. I honestly cannot remember a single clean joke. However, I will say that looking past those elements, this is one of the most creative comedies I have seen in a long time. The situations these characters get themselves into are so original, the character of McLovin simply masterfully done. The relationship between the two main characters, and the problems and emotions they face as they realize that soon they will be apart from each other, is very poignant and relevant to young people my age. Still, the good elements are buried under a hailstorm of offensive material. Unless you are prepared to for an onslaught of shocking behavior, I would not see this movie.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 4½
Kara, age 17
Positive—I am not going to lie. This movie is horrendously offensive. The language is crude and inappropriate. I’m a teen, and even I do not hear language like this. There is a shot of a woman’s breasts (for like 5 seconds) and various cartoon depictions of a man’s “downstairs” area. The two boys demean both men and women with their language and their acts. However, this movie is also extremely funny. When I was watching it I was partly appalled by the language and the nature of the teens, but I was also clutching my stomach from my incessant laughter. Yes, there are drugs, alcohol, sex, language, and a bunch of other issues. That’s what it is rated “R.” The R-rating warns you that this movie will be intense. If you cannot handle the intensity, don’t see the film. However, if you can handle the intensity of a rated-R movie (a standing which “Superbad” rightfully earns), then I assure you, you will enjoy “Superbad.” It is truly amusing.
My Ratings: Very Offensive / 5
Maryam, age 17
Positive—“Super Bad” was absolutely hilarious. I’ve never laughed so hard at a movie in my life. As for the 'OMG, no one under the age of 42 should see this?' Alright parents, I got news for you. This movie is shockingly accurate in it’s portrayal of what teenaged boys act like, and not just 17 or 18-year olds. Coming from a 14-year old girl, most guys I know ARE sex-obsessed and plot their “sexcapades” with their friends and DO drop the f-bomb in just about every other word they speak. I find it completely hypocritical that parents are freaking out over this MADE-UP movie when most of them aren’t aware of their child’s own environment. If parents do not think their child is exposed to this garbage already, they’re clearly living in some sick fantasy world that they need to get out of. Anyway, while this movie was offensive, the ending did have some hidden morals. One of the main characters chooses not to take advantage of his drunken crush (something highly unlikely to happen in the actual world of high school parties,) and the other main character lets go of his anger towards his friend for going away to college when he realizes that he loves his friend, and that he wants him to have the best future possible.
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 5
Leanne, age 14
Positive—This is by far funnier than every movie I have ever seen in my life. I have never laughed so hard at anything before, as I don’t recall the rest of the audience ever doing so, either. Sure, there is cussing and crude humor, BUT IT’S HILARIOUS!!! If you want to bust a gut laughing at a great film, go see “Superbad”!!!…
My Ratings: Offensive / 5
John McKinley, age 16
Comments from non-viewers
While I have never actually seen this movie (so you may decide for yourself whether this comment is even worth reading), I have read a couple reviews on it, seen the trailers, and have listened in on talks about it among some friends who have seen it. When these friends asked if I would like to watch it again with them, I had to reply in the negative, simply because I don’t believe that embracing this kind of “humor” is Biblically sound. Despite some of its truth about teenage mentality, A) Is a crude movie necessary to further glorify this morally perverted mentality? and B) Has the movie grown its Christian and non-Christian viewers closer to Christ? My friends who have seen the movie ask my why I cannot simply be mature enough to view offensive material. My only reply is that I do not believe that holiness can be derived from being “mature” about sin.
Alissa, age 18