One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!!!***
85. Superbad (2007) Directed by Greg Mottola
The Movie: Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are entering the final stretch of the senior year of high school. They are best friends and both are virgins and going to different schools. Seth tells Evan that they must lose their virginity before they go to college, or the women there will think they are losers.
When Seth learns that his crush Jules (Emma Stone) is throwing a party while her parents are out of town, she invites him because he promises he will be able to supply the liquor for the party, thanks to his “friend” Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) acquiring a fake ID after school. Evan’s crush, Becca (Martha Maclsaac) will also be there, and Evan promises her he will get her favorite vodka.
After school, Evan and Seth are stressing out because Fogell is late meeting them. When Fogell does arrive, the guys are more annoyed that his age is “25” on his fake ID and more pissed that his name on the ID is “McLovin”.
Worried that it won’t work, the guys realize that there is no turning back if they are to be the heroes of Jules’ party. Fogell enters the liquor store and surprisingly, his ID works. Just before he is about to buy the liquor and leave, Fogell is punched in the face by a robber. Police Officers Michaels (Seth Roger) and Slater (Bill Hader) arrive on scene to question what happened. When Seth and Evan see this, they believe Fogell is being arrested. They freak out and walk in the parking lot, where Seth is hit by a car. The driver Francis (Joe Lo Truglio) offers to bring them to a party where they can get some alcohol for their party.
Fogell is not being arrested, in fact Michaels and Slater tell him they will give him a ride to the party. Slater and Michaels bond with “McLovin” They shot stop signs, drink at a bar and use the sirens in the police vehicle to run red lights.
At the party that Francis brings Seth and Evan to they realize they are in over their heads, but they still go looking for alcohol. Seth decides to dance with a drunk girl and Evan gets trapped in a room full of a bunch of guys doing drugs. They coerce Evan into singing to them, because one thinks he knows Evan and claims that Evan has the voice of an angel. Evan launches into “These Eyes” and brings tears to the intoxicated men’s eyes.
Seth learns that the woman he was dancing with bled on him, from menstruating blood and stains his pants. He also learns that she is the fiancée of the man who owns the house. Seth tries to tell him that they are “blood brothers” due to them having matching stains on their pants. This infuriates him and brawl breaks out. Evan and Seth are able to run away with a laundry detergent bottle full of liquor.
After Seth and Evan get away, Seth tells Evan that he is bailing on him for going to Dartmouth and he is not. Evan tells Seth that it is not his fault that he got into a good college and that Seth is holding him back. At that moment Seth is hit by another car. This time it is a police vehicle, happened to be driven by Michaels and Slater. Once Fogell realizes this, he Seth and Evan run away.
A wedge is further driven into Seth and Evan’s relationship when Fogell lets slip that he is rooming with Evan at Dartmouth. This causes the boys to go their separate ways at the party. Seth becomes popular at the party when he tells everyone what he went through to get there. Evan learns that Becca wants to have sex with him and they go to their own room. Fogell is able to get Nicola (Aviva Baumann) upstairs for sex.
Jules talks to Seth who kisses her. Jules rejects Seth’s advances as he is drunk and she is not. Seth passes out and hits Jules in the face. Evan turns down Becca as she is drunk and does not want to take advantage of her. Fogell scores with Nicola, just as Slater and Michaels break up the party. Slater busts open the door to the room Fogell and Nicola are in causing her to run away. Slater yells at “McLovin” for ditching them. Michaels points out that they interrupted him having sex. Both cops apologize to “McLovin” and tell him they always knew he was underage, but they played along so he would think that cops can be cool too. Fogell asks them if they can handcuff him in front of everyone to make him look badass. They do and they leave the party and trash the patrol car so it looks like it was stolen. Fogell signs a witness statement stating that the vehicle was stolen to save Michaels and Slater’s jobs.
Seth and Evan make it to Evan’s house were the reconcile and apologize to each other.
The next day they go to the mall and run into Jules and Becca. Becca and Seth apologize for their behavior the night before. Seth offers to buy concealer for Jules after she sustained a black eye and Becca asks Evan to go with her to buy a new comforter to replace the one she threw up on. The guys go their separate ways.
Why I Love Superbad (2007): I remember going to see this movie with Brad and we could not stop laughing. The film is non-stop funny and it reminds me of my friends and how stupid we were in high school.
The chemistry between the three leads is so great that you see yourself and your friends in each of them. Just like the film, my friends and I were foul mouthed and nowhere near as cool as we through we were.
Superbad is endlessly quotable. I mean, everyone knows exactly what and who you mean when you say, “I am McLovin.”
What makes a movie transcend, I believe from just a comedy, is every time I watch I still laugh and I notice something new. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched Superbad, but every time I do it feels like a home cooked meal. A movie that conjures up wonderful memories of seeing the film with Brad and the shenanigans he and our other friends got into in high school.