Superbad (2007)

Superbad’s entire plan rests on a fake ID with one name on it. No first name, no last name, just McLovin. That’s the level of genius we’re working with. The movie runs 113 minutes, which is long for a teen comedy, and the cop subplot with Bill Hader and Seth Rogen keeps going well after the joke has landed, like two guys who won’t leave the party. Some of the humor about girls has aged badly too, and you’ll feel it. But Jonah Hill and Michael Cera have real chemistry, the kind where you believe these two have been co-signing each other’s worst ideas since they were little. Christopher Mintz-Plasse turns a total nobody into a legend with nothing but confidence and a Hawaii license. Under all the noise it’s a sweet movie about best friends who are scared to split up. An 8.1 because the friendship is real, and it’s also the funniest part. $533 says you say McLovin out loud at least once today for no reason at all.

What works: Jonah Hill and Michael Cera feel like real best friends, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse turns McLovin into a one-word legend.

What doesn’t: At 113 minutes it runs long for a teen comedy, and the cop subplot keeps going after the joke is spent.

Who it’s for: Anyone who had one best friend in high school and one terrible plan to impress people.