Fry Cook on Venus

Superbad (2007)
directed by Greg Mottola
rating: 3 out of 5 cravats
seen on the screen at Oxford Studio Cinema

Teen comedy writers (even those Freaks and Geeks darlings) need to start remembering that Ferris Bueller was the same slick asshole charmer at the end of his sick day that he was when it started. "Joyously emphasizing male friendship, respect for women, and open dialogue between opposing demographics?" "No matter how unapologetically vulgar their words, no matter how single-mindedly priapic their preoccupations, these men and boys are good and decent and tender and true?"



Is friendship - and characters articulating what it means to them - really so rare in movies that Superbad's emphasis deserves such superfluous praise? Or is the triumph of platonic love in one more last night of high school more than a little disappointing? Cameron never stood a chance with Sloane; the lesson in those prank phone calls to Rooney was at least to try. What were they going to do, hang out in Chicago all day without a girl? What a waste!