Every ten years or so there needs to be a defining coming-of-age film (or what we in the literary biz call a bildungsroman). I was caught right in-between films -- too young to really appreciate the profundity of Fast Times at Ridgemont High and too old to be taken in by the sentimentality of The Breakfast Club. This isn't to say that I wasn't wholly affected by either film only that the impact was somewhat deflected. After watching Superbad, I envy those currently in the 16-20 age group. On the one hand, this is straight up raunchy adolescent potty humor. Simply put, 90% of the jokes involve ... oh, how to put it delicately ... male genitalia. The bildungsroman for reasons that any student who has taken my literature courses should well know, is an inherently male-privileged genre and Superbad makes no apologies for that. But, on the other hand, this is dumb comedy done smartly. There is a sincere intelligence behind all this potty-mouthed humor. In other words, it's a dirty film that doesn't make you feel dirty for having watched it.
|
Archives
January 2016
|