cover image I Am McLovin: How ‘Superbad’ Became the Biggest Comedy Hit of Its Generation

I Am McLovin: How ‘Superbad’ Became the Biggest Comedy Hit of Its Generation

Andrew Buss. Applause, $28.95 trade paper (244p) ISBN 978-1-4930-7982-7

This boisterous chronicle from journalist Buss (Top Five) details the making of the 2007 teen buddy comedy Superbad. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg originally conceived of the film after watching a “sensationally awful movie” (they can’t remember which one) and thinking they could do better despite being only 13 years old at the time. They spent the next several years cobbling together a script based on their high school experiences, which Rogen presented to producer Judd Apatow after appearing on Apatow’s short-lived series Freaks and Geeks. Apatow adored its authentic portrayal of adolescence and agreed to help make the film. Buss describes how Rogen, Goldberg, and Apatow had trouble selling studios on the R-rated dialogue, met with “a revolving door of young actors” during the protracted casting process, and cultivated a “laid back” vibe on set, where “many nights turned into post-shooting hang sessions.” Humorous moments abound, as when Buss describes the scene inside director Greg Mottola’s office as he considered which of the thousands of penis drawings made by Goldberg’s brother to feature in the movie. To his credit, Buss isn’t afraid to criticize the film’s shortcomings, lamenting as problematic the protagonists’ determination to buy alcohol because they believed intoxicated women would be more likely to sleep with them. This entertaining account celebrates the beloved comedy without letting it off the hook. (Feb.)