Manhola Dargis likes Superbad:

If the penis is puzzled in “Portnoy’s Complaint,” as Alexander Portnoy’s shrink believes, in “Superbad” it is thoroughly, stunningly clueless and as violently tremulous as a divining rod at Hoover Dam.

. . .Mr. Apatow traffics in such a cute, cuddly vision of modern masculinity that it seems rude to wonder if it’s honestly felt (which is what I think), self-flattering (ditto) or cunningly opportunistic (nah). Certainly it’s testosterone-heavy, if not exactly macho. And, indeed, part of what’s fascinating about Mr. Apatow’s ascendancy, and why the comedy moment belongs to him more than it does either to the Farrelly brothers or to Ben Stiller and his mob, is how he has created — and come close to perfecting — a masculine variation on aspirational wish-fulfillment movies like “Legally Blonde.” Except instead of perky, pretty women reaching up, up, up, Mr. Apatow offers freaks and geeks aching to be worthy of those same women.

(more. . . )

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