Contrary to its title, “Superbad” was actually quite good. But good in a different way from what film critics usually consider high quality cinematics. Will “Superbad” win any Oscars? Probably not, but neither did “Billy Madison” or “Basketball,” and those movies are also hilarious. Unlike most vulgar teen-comedies, though, “Superbad” was endearing. Each character reminded me of someone I knew in high school. Even when the movie wasn’t making me laugh uproariously, the allure made me smile the whole time.

Co-written by and featuring “Knocked Up” star Seth Rogen, this obscene comedy follows a wild night of two nerdy high school seniors trying to get some action on a party night before going their separate ways in college. The two protagonists, Evan and Seth (Michael Cera and Jonah Hill), based on the high school personalities of co-writers Rogen and Evan Goldberg, use their friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse): the scrawny, bookworm character they’re slightly embarrassed to be friends with: to buy beer for the party because of a newly acquired fake I.D. The problem they’re faced with is that Fogell chose the name McLovin as his fake identity, thinking it would be particularly badass.

The two corrupt, party-animal policemen (Rogen and Bill Hader) take Fogell under their wing while Even and Seth end up stealing beer and carrying it in laundry detergent containers from an ultra-sketchy party that some not-so-cool older guy drove them to. The interactions between the two policemen are completely outlandish, which is a funny juxtaposition to the remarkable likelihood of every other event in the film. They drink and drive and shoot their guns at stop signs, the whole time showing “McLovin” the time of his life. These two actors are naturally funny and masters of their craft; their scenes reminded me of everything I’ve come across that has almost been too weird or spectacular to talk about.
For any high school graduates who have ever been in a dangerous, exciting or just plain stupid situation in high school, “Superbad” may be a nostalgic glimpse into the past. And for anyone who values the subtle quirks of our peers, “Superbad” is a humorous reminder of the importance of friendship: and the tribulations faced while trekking toward some goal, which in the moment seems to be more important than anything else in the world.

SUPERBAD; Rated R; 114 minutes