Superbad (2007): A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing
Rating: 6.7/10
Superbad is a film that well-navigates sour dynamics between men and women by sending a message to the target audience about consent while being a funny and relatable film in a time of change.
Highlights:
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Great cast
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Funny
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Friendship <3
Lowlights:
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Sexist at times
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Dumb humor
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Can be painfully stupid to watch
I had very mixed feelings about Superbad. In the first half I was convinced it was the worst movie ever made, but as it went on it seemed to be conscious of its offensive characters and the dangerous messages it was sending. To be more specific, the sexism was stifling in the first half and the crude jokes weren’t funny, but as the movie continued that became an important part of the characters' development. In the beginning, I had assumed the creators of the film were genuinely trying to be funny with the meaningless antics of the sex-obsessed characters, but their improvement in the end showed that the whole point of the movie was to tell a story about the distractions of Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) that impacted their friendship. However, this film still wasn’t perfect. It ended up portraying a generally positive message regarding sex and women but could have been better. While in the end Seth learned that he shouldn’t feel the need to push intoxication on a woman for sex, he only learned this because Jules (Emma Stone) had to spell this out for him. He should have known better in the first place. It’s not a woman’s job to teach men how to be decent human beings, and she shouldn’t have been so forgiving. Evan’s actions were of course better, and I appreciate he at least knew consent requires sobriety. The character development is positive throughout the film, as you can see how the main characters’ perception of women changes over time, and that was effective enough yet not too obvious that it would scare away teenage boys. Altogether, Superbad had a good message to send to the targeted audience of the film, and it was funny and entertaining throughout (though I think I did lose a few brain cells). The last few months before college is a difficult and scary time, and though I wish the film had focused on this more, it was poignant to see the friendship of Seth and Evan mature.
Did you watch the movie? Do you want more? Check out other movies on the 2000s Archive page like Napoleon Dynamite or Juno. Superbad, Napoleon Dynamite, and Juno are all set in high school with similar actors and characters, so if you enjoyed one you’re bound to enjoy the other!
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Juno (2007): Captivating and Original
Rating: 6.1/10
Juno, featuring talented star Elliot Page, was a fun and touching film that presents teenagers in a new and interesting way.
Highlights:
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Fun cast
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Unpredictable
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Great soundtrack
Lowlights:
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Juno could be annoying at times
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Not enough reaction to pregnancy
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Would have liked more secondary characters
I definitely understand why Juno’s a cult classic. Juno (Elliot Page)’s personality is contagious, and her wit and humor only makes the complicated situation all the more real. You’re pulled into her decisions, invested in the outcomes, and Page artfully allows us to see all of Juno, even what she hides from everyone else. Though I felt like her and other characters’ fairly unbothered response to her pregnancy was unrealistic, as a character she was vivid and enthralling. The way Juno handles her pregnancy in particular is interesting, as she approached it from a completely selfless perspective despite the fact that her pregnancy was only affecting her. I’m not sure how realistic this is, but it was interesting nonetheless. The ending (spoiler: where Juno and Bleeker [Michael Cera] avoid meeting their baby since he’s being adopted) adds another dimension to the commonly discussed topic in film of family. Most films choose to expand the definition of love and family, but Juno chooses to shrink it. In the end, however, family is indeed something you choose, and Juno’s lack of interest in her baby’s life doesn’t invoke a feeling of pity and secondhand betrayal but instead reinforces her selfless choice to give life though she was not obligated. Bleeker (Michael Cera) was great as well, playing the same awkward and innocent character we know him for. I appreciated Juno’s new take on a teen film; though it was funny and entertaining it also offered a new and surprising story.
Did you watch the movie? Do you want more? Check out other movies on the 2000s Archive page with Michael Cera like Superbad. You're bound to enjoy Superbad if you liked Juno along with other films on the 2000s archive page!
Watch the trailer!
What a Girl Wants (2003): Refreshingly Light but Too Silly
Rating: 5.5/10
Though I expected a decent film from Colin Firth at the least, What a Girl Wants was too silly and, at times, just unbearable to watch, though in the end a heartwarming though vapid film.
Highlights:
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Cute!
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Very easy to follow
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Colin Firth
Lowlights:
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Overly silly
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Daphne is frustrating
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Characters behave unrealistically
I was disappointed by What a Girl Wants. I know it hasn’t yet stood the test of time and become a classic film, but I thought it would at least meet the fairly low bar of this type of movie. However, it was frequently unbearably cheesy, and it took a lot of effort to get into the movie. I even had to stop watching three separate times to reevaluate whether it was really worth my time. Luckily, as the film went on it became easier to be interested in Daphne (Amanda Bynes)’s antics in the beautiful British environment, but it still lacked substance overall. Instead of acting, Bynes rotates between the rudimentary emotions of joy and sadness and fills pockets of potential depth with vapidness. Though the movie tries to communicate the importance of staying true to yourself, it really seems to question what family means more. Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth)’s easy acceptance and love of Daphne seems unconvincing, and even her occasional lack of realistic emotions relating to family is annoying. However, I made it through the film and was glad I watched it. What a Girl Wants is a good movie when you’re in need of a light comedy, but if you’re wanting anything deeper I wouldn’t recommend wasting your time.
Did you watch the movie? Do you want more? Check out other movies on the 2000s Archive page with Amanda Bynes like She’s The Man. You're bound to enjoy She’s the Man if you liked What a Girl Wants along with other films on the 2000s archive page!
Watch the trailer!