Superbad (Movie)

* Bibliographic information
Mottola, G. Superbad [Motion Picture]. (2007). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Starring Michael Cera and Jonah Hill.

- Nominated for numerous awards, including MTV and Teen Choice Awards.


* Plot Summary
Seth and Evan want to lose their virginity before college and they both have girls they like. With the help of their friend McLovin, and his fake ID they try to buy beer for a party where they know the girls will be when McLovin gets taken away by the cops and Seth and Evan are forced to find someone over 21 to buy them alcohol. They get taken to a party full of adults by a crazy guy who hit Seth with his car. After avoiding a fight they find themselves stopped by the same cops who have been driving around with McLovin all night. The three teens run form the police in search of the party with their dream dates. Facing the end of high school, these teens prepare for college life by partying then running from the cops and people who want to fight them. At the end of the night they are both saddened by the fact that they will have to live without each other when they get to college.


* Critical Evaluation
A fun movie full of comedic performances. This is not a movie to make people sit and think about the issues of the world but a good time to be shared by all who watch it. Teens will love the over the top humor and the events that take place as theses two best friends prepare to leave each other and go off to college. The girl part of the story is hilarious too and will have people laughing as Evan gets confused by the girl he likes throwing herself at him and Seth accidently smacks the girl he likes in the face with his head. These to awkward teen boys are not much different from most teens out there so young adults will relate to the tough times they face as they try to get to a party.


* Reader’s Annotation
Seth and Evan are going off to college soon but first they want to lose their virginity to the girls they have crushes on. Follow these two on a night of fun, adventure, and parties.


* Information about the director
Mottola grew up in New York; he is a filmmaker and television director. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in art from Carnegie Mellon University and his Master of Fine Arts in film from Columbia University. His directorial credits include Adventureland, Superbad, and episodes of the hit TV show, Arrested Development. He is married and has one child; a son.


* Genre
Comedy; Teens, Parties


* Curriculum Ties, if any
N/A


* Movie Discussion Ideas
1) When Seth and Evan go off to college, do you think their friendship will change?
2) In college, will Seth and Evan’s relationship with the girls grow or dissolve?
3) Talk about a sequel to Superbad, what would be a good story line for that film?


* Interest Age
16 and Up / Rated R


* Challenge Issues and Defense
Challenge Issues: Underage Drinking, Drugs, Sex, Crime and Fighting.

Defense Ideas:
1) Ask the patron about the movie and issue in question and find out how much they know about the movie.
2) Help the patron become more familiar with the film and its content.
3) Show the patron positive reviews for this movie, such as ones found on Yahoo!Movies, http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809765431/critic.
4) If available, introduce the patron to people who have seen it in the library or tell the patron what you thought of the movie if you have seen it.
5) Show the patron the collection development policy for that particular library. For example, the one for the San Diego County library, http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
6) If they still want to file a grievance about the movie begin the necessary paperwork by giving them the forms they need to fill out. In the San Diego County system, the grievance will then go to The Challenged Materials Team. If the committee cannot resolve the issue, it then goes to the County Library Director for a final decision. http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf


* Why did you include this movie in your titles you selected?
I wanted to include this movie in my selections because it is laugh out loud funny and most teen boys in their senior year of high school have the same thoughts and feelings as Seth and Evan. The comedy and events that take place are over the top and not completely realistic but many young adults worry about going away to college and what that means for their relationships with others their age. I worried about putting this title with my other selections because of the “R” rating but then I saw that it on the YALSA’s list of 2009 Fabulous Films for Young Adults so I knew it had to be included. It is a fun movie for older teens; many teens will have to get their parents’ permission to rent it but the parents can watch it with them if they are worried and censor if need be.