And "The Slumdog" Goes to..

I really enjoy Judd Apatow's work. I think 40 Year Old Virgin was one of the freshest films to come out in its year. While Knocked Up proved even better, with Apatow's pacing and technical skills improved. Naturally, Superbad seemed like the next logically step in the Apatow cannon. The redband trailer looked great, along with stellar word of mouth proceeding the August release date. I vividly remember Superbads release, as it coincided with my first week of college. Judging by reviews,trailers,and the current context of my life, I was already in love with Superbad ready to proclaim it THE movie of my generation (genre wise). I gathered on a Friday evening my budding group of three day old friends. We sat in the theatre. Collectively cheered at the first glimpse of The Dark Knight. And all laughed hysterically at Jonah Hill's porn tirade, which opens the film. Then something happened, while every ones laughter continued, mine stopped. It wasn't my girlfriends look of disgust and it wasn't even my initial thought the the movie was suffering from my sky high expectations. The film just didn't seem...right. I GOT it. I begrudgingly understand WHY Superbad is my generations cat nip. But I never understood exactly WHY the film left me cold. That was until I saw Superbad director's Greg Motolla's follow up-- Adventureland. So, the first recipient of "The Slumdog" is somewhat controversial. Come on up to the podium Superbad.

Now Superbad, I know you have an 87% fresh rating at Rottentomatoes along with legions of adoring college fans and old, left over yuppies. I realize you see yourself as a microcosm of today's highschool culture, where actual morality arises from the profane. But I got something on you Superbad, I've seen the movie your director wanted you to be. And what he wanted you to be, and what your four letter minded writer Mr. Seth Rogen had in mind...well, they don't fit.

Seth Rogen wanted you to be fast, cutloose, alot of "dick jokes". Essentially his highschool experience hyper realized. Greg Motolla meanwhile saw you as a meandering onslaught of articulate emotions professed in drunken, insecure highschool stupor. Adventureland, Greg Motolla as the sole writer, shows the film that I could feel trapped inside of you. An Apatow film meanwhile is fast and loose, shrugging through the pitfalls of life with either a marriage or a baby...then a marriage. While your characters are about to leave behind their best friends. These Kids who by worrying about the minutia of life rather than seeing the big picture are accidentally experiencing...life. This is melancholy stuff that needs to be dealt with, yes with humor (even filthy humor...hey highschool is filthy), but also understated gravitas. By undercutting feeling with four letter words, puke/fart/phallic jokes, or broad grandstanding by your actors, you betray what your proclaimed to be "an authentic take on the awkwardness of the high school experience."

Other problems exist with the film such as the PAINFULLY long, creepy party sequence and the unnecessary amount of scenes with Seth Rogen and Bill Hader. Mainly, Superbad treads dangerous cinematic waters, as a film that causes and will continue to cause an entire generation to actually believe that THIS was their highschool experience.