When it comes to modern comedies, it seems like writers and directors have been, more often than not, opting for the “raunchier means better” mentality. And while there are always outliers in the wake of passing trends, it does feel as though the majority of big-budget modern comedies revolve around characters saying and doing obscene things to get an audience to laugh. To an extent, I feel as though this is the adult equivalent of jangling keys in front of a baby’s face, doing something ridiculous and flashy to get giggles out of immature audience members. However, raunchy comedies are not intrinsically bad, so long as they are more than just crude and gross. The crudeness and grossness has to be paired with clever comedy and fun characters in a way that makes the experience feel more like a movie and less like two middle schoolers trying to out-do each other in the lunchroom. Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, who have been writing together since 2007, seem to have found a good formula for this genre, combining raunchiness with good characterization. And, with their newest film Sausage Party about to be released, it seemed like a good idea to take a look at some of their previous films.
Superbad
The first of the full-length features written by the Goldberg and Rogen team, Superbad is a great example of a raunchy comedy that focuses on its characters as much as its comedy. The movie follows two high-school seniors, Evan and Seth, on their last weeks of school. Seth is convinced that he and Evan need to get girlfriends over the summer, getting in some practice with all things sexual before they go to college. He is also convinced that the only way he can get with his crush Jules, and Evan with his crush Becca, is by going to a party they are at, providing the alcohol and getting them hammered. Thus, the two partake on an adventure with their nerdy companion Fogell to get the alcohol for a party Jules is throwing.
This movie, in a way that few others seem to do, does an excellent job at capturing the feeling of both being in, and preparing to leave, high school. Superbad captures the combined exhilaration and anxiety of leaving high school through its two main characters. Seth, played by Jonah Hill, can’t wait to get out of high school and try his hand at college life. Evan, played by Michael Cera, is more tentative about both Seth’s plans for the party and the coming future. These characters are written with such accuracy and realism, feeling just like high schoolers struggling with moving on, that it makes me wonder how close these portrayals are to the lives of the writers themselves (as the characters seem to be named after them).
Along with being a pretty accurate portrayal of the world the film inhabits, Superbad also manages to have excellently funny performances all around. Cera and Hill have an amazing chemistry as Evan and Seth, with Cera’s awkwardness and Hill’s brash speech. Seth Rogen and Bill Hader play police officers who end up with Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s Fogell, and the three of them have an excellent dynamic as well. Martha MacIssac and Emma Stone also have great performances as Becca and Jules, with an especially hilarious scene happening between Cera and MacIssac that involves quite a lot of alcohol. Overall, Superbad is a great example of raunchy comedy done right, combining the brash humor with wit and character that makes the film shine.
Grade: A-
This movie, in a way that few others seem to do, does an excellent job at capturing the feeling of both being in, and preparing to leave, high school. Superbad captures the combined exhilaration and anxiety of leaving high school through its two main characters. Seth, played by Jonah Hill, can’t wait to get out of high school and try his hand at college life. Evan, played by Michael Cera, is more tentative about both Seth’s plans for the party and the coming future. These characters are written with such accuracy and realism, feeling just like high schoolers struggling with moving on, that it makes me wonder how close these portrayals are to the lives of the writers themselves (as the characters seem to be named after them).
Along with being a pretty accurate portrayal of the world the film inhabits, Superbad also manages to have excellently funny performances all around. Cera and Hill have an amazing chemistry as Evan and Seth, with Cera’s awkwardness and Hill’s brash speech. Seth Rogen and Bill Hader play police officers who end up with Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s Fogell, and the three of them have an excellent dynamic as well. Martha MacIssac and Emma Stone also have great performances as Becca and Jules, with an especially hilarious scene happening between Cera and MacIssac that involves quite a lot of alcohol. Overall, Superbad is a great example of raunchy comedy done right, combining the brash humor with wit and character that makes the film shine.
Grade: A-
This is the End
Based on Goldburg and Rogen’s earliest colaberation, a short film called Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse, This is the End uses its interesting and creative concept to drive its characters and elevate its humor. The movie follows Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel, played by themselves, who have been friends since they were kids but unfortunately drifted apart once they became celebrities. During one of their regular get-togethers involving weed and video games, Rogen convinces Baruchel to attend a party at James Franco’s house, where a number of other celebrities will be in attendance. Baruchel reluctantly agrees, but the two end up finding themselves trapped in the house with a few of the attending celebrities after an apocalyptic event occurs.
What makes This is the End so clever and interesting is the way it creates its characters, having actors essentially play parodies of themselves and working from there. Every actor in the film plays themselves during the apocalyptic events, which leads to some great moments between actors. The movie escalates stereotypes about certain actors, like James Franco’s eccentricity, which makes for fun parody comedy. It is odd to see a movie that is almost entirely self-parody, which helps keep This is the End from feeling like every other parody on the market. Chemistry between characters is also helped by having characters play themselves, especially when it comes to the relationship between Rogen and Baruchel, who actually were good friends pre-fame.
The great and satirical interpretations of these actors/characters creates excellent comedy, especially through some of the cameos that happen before the apocalypse. Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig T. Robinson all do a great job as the six main survivors, but my favorite performance comes from Michael Cera. Before the apocalypse occurs, Cera plays a completely wasted and insane version of himself, which had me in stitches the few times he was mentioned or seen on screen. The other celebrity cameos, like those from Emma Watson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari are fun as well, emphasizing the stereotypes of each. In the end (pun intended), the movie is another hilarious outing by Goldberg and Rogen.
Grade: A-
What makes This is the End so clever and interesting is the way it creates its characters, having actors essentially play parodies of themselves and working from there. Every actor in the film plays themselves during the apocalyptic events, which leads to some great moments between actors. The movie escalates stereotypes about certain actors, like James Franco’s eccentricity, which makes for fun parody comedy. It is odd to see a movie that is almost entirely self-parody, which helps keep This is the End from feeling like every other parody on the market. Chemistry between characters is also helped by having characters play themselves, especially when it comes to the relationship between Rogen and Baruchel, who actually were good friends pre-fame.
The great and satirical interpretations of these actors/characters creates excellent comedy, especially through some of the cameos that happen before the apocalypse. Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig T. Robinson all do a great job as the six main survivors, but my favorite performance comes from Michael Cera. Before the apocalypse occurs, Cera plays a completely wasted and insane version of himself, which had me in stitches the few times he was mentioned or seen on screen. The other celebrity cameos, like those from Emma Watson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari are fun as well, emphasizing the stereotypes of each. In the end (pun intended), the movie is another hilarious outing by Goldberg and Rogen.
Grade: A-
Check back every Wednesday for another installment of This Week in Movies!
Last week examined Ensemble Superhero Movies in preparation for Suicide Squad.
Last week examined Ensemble Superhero Movies in preparation for Suicide Squad.
RSS Feed
