Rogen has acknowledged that the anti-gay language ed his teen edy would be appropriate today
Contents:
IS "SUPERBAD" SUPERGAY?{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY KARMAN KREGLOEAUGT 22, 2007/6:06 PMBY KARMAN KREGLOEAUGT 22, 2007 / 6:06 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"IS \"SUPERBAD\" SUPERGAY?","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-08-22T22:06:59.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-08-22T22:06:59.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"KARMAN KREGLOE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IF YOU WATCH TV MERCIALS AT ALL, YOU'RE PROBABLY ALREADY FAIAR WH SUPERBAD'S SUPER SIMPLE PLOT, BUT JT SE YOU'RE NOT, NCERNS A GROUP OF NERDY HIGH SCHOOL STUNTS WHO ARE VED TO THE FIRST OL PARTY OF THEIR LIV. BUT THE ONLY WAY THEY N GO TO THE BASH (AT LEAST WH ANY DIGNY) IS TO BUY BOOZE FOR EVERYONE, WHICH PRENTS A CHALLENGE AS THEY ARE UNRAGE. WHAT THEN FOLLOWS ARE WACKY, RNCHY HIJKS AS SETH (JONAH HILL), EVAN (MICHAEL CERA) AND FOGELL (CHRISTOPHER MTZ-PLASSE) ATTEMPT TO SRE THE LIQUOR AND MAKE TO THE PARTY ONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THERE IS SOMETHG MORE TO THE MOVIE THE CHARACTER OF SETH, A YOUNG TEEN WHOSE SEXUALY JT MIGHT BE DOUBT. AT FIRST GLANCE, HE SEEMS TO BE AS STRAIGHT AS THEY E. HE'S TO INTER PORN, HE HAS A CSH ON A GIRL, AND HE EVEN PRETENDS TO HAVE SEX WH HER DURG HOME ENOMICS CLASS (THOUGH SHE DON'T NOTICE).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THERE ARE NUMERO OF CLU WHICH LEAD ONE TO BELIEVE SETH JT MIGHT BE QUEER AND NFED. TAKEN ALONE, THE CLU MAY NOT MEAN MUCH, BUT ADD THEM UP, AND AN TERTG PICTURE STARTS TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FIRST OFF, SETH ADMS THAT AS A CHILD, HE LIKED TO DRAW PENIS. HE DIDN'T JT DRAW ONE OR TWO; HE WAS OBSSED WH THEM. THAT PENIS OBSSN REMAS WH HIM TODAY, SO MUCH SO THAT HE N'T WATCH INTER PORN THAT DON'T HAVE PENIS . (“HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A VAGA BY SELF?” HE ASKS EVAN. “NOT FOR ME.”) SETH ALSO SAYS THAT LOOKG TO A CERTA BOYS' EY IS AS BETIFUL AN EXPERIENCE AS LISTENG TO THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTHER CLU ARE EVEN MORE TELLG: SETH IS JEALO HIS IEND WILL BE ROOMG WH FOGELL NEXT YEAR AT LLEGE. IN FACT, JEALO IS TOO WEAK OF A WORD. SETH ACTS LIKE A LOVER SRNED. SETH IS ALSO UPSET EVAN IS PREPARG TO HAVE TERURSE WH A GIRL WHEN THAT WAS NOT PART OF THEIR “PLAN.” (THE PLAN SEEMS TO BE TO ONLY HAVE ORAL SEX, LEADG ONE TO THK THAT SETH DON'T SEE ORAL SEX AS BEG THE TIMATE ACT TERURSE IS. JT LIKE BILL CLTON.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SETH EVEN CLAR HIS LOVE FOR EVAN A SCENE THAT'S MORE THAN A B REMISCENT OF BROKEBACK MOUNTA. WHILE SETH IS DNK AT THE TIME, THIS SE, THE ALHOL SEEMS LIKE TTH SEM. AND LET'S ALSO NOT FET THE SCENE WHICH SETH LOVGLY RRI HIS BT IEND HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BY THE END OF THE FILM, THE DIENCE GETS THE FEELG — PECIALLY THE FAL AMBIVALENT SCENE — THAT SETH DON'T NNECT WH THE GIRL HE IS CHASG EVEN HALF AS MUCH AS HE DO WH EVAN. IT'S SOMEWHAT TRATG BEE YOU KEEP WAG FOR SETH TO REALIZE THE OBV, BUT HE NEVER DO. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HIS BEHAVR IS NEVER REALLY FED BY THE FILMMAKERS AS GAY, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, AS THE BEHAVR OF A TEEN WHO IS QUTNG HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO WHILE QUEER VIEWERS MIGHT READ SETH AS GAY OR NFED, THE RT OF THE DIENCE WILL LIKELY NOT. BEE OF THIS, SUPERBAD REMDS ME OF ONE OF THOSE FILMS THE PRE-STONEWALL ERA WHERE THE GAYNS WAS STRONGLY SUGGTED BUT NEVER TALKED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YET STRANGELY ENOUGH, THAT MAY BE A GOOD THG. EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE THE POST-BROKEBACK MOUNTA AGE, 'S STILL HARD FOR A GAY FILM TO GET MASTREAM DISTRIBUTN. SUPERBAD'S DANCG AROUND THE QUEER ISSUE AT LEAST ENSUR THE FILM GETS SEEN BY THE MASTREAM, WHEREAS IF SETH WERE ACTUALLY GAY, SUPERBAD WOULD PROBABLY BE PLAYG LTLE ART HO OR HIS ROLE WOULD BE SIGNIFINTLY SMALLER. MAYBE IF THE WORLD GETS A LTLE MORE GAY-IENDLY THE NEXT FEW YEARS, SETH N GET HIMSELF A NICE BOYIEND THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT IS ALSO A POSIVE STEP FORWARD THAT NOBODY EVER MAK FUN OF SETH FOR HIS GAY-ISH BEHAVR (PECIALLY WHEN THE TEENS MAKE FUN OF EACH OTHER FOR EVERYTHG ELSE). PERHAPS 'S A TAD OPTIMISTIC, BUT MAYBE SUPERBAD ULD EVEN HELP REAL-LIFE TEENS BE MORE SENSIVE TO GUYS WHO ARE GAY, OR GUYS WHO ARE STRAIGHT BUT DON'T F TO THE TRADNAL HETEROSEXUAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WAS SETH HIMSELF EVER MEANT TO BE VIEWED AS GAY THE FIRST PLACE? PROBABLY NOT AS HE'S SUPPOSEDLY BASED ON SETH ROGEN, THE STRAIGHT STAR OF KNOCKED UP WHO -WROTE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REGARDLS THOUGH, IF SETH WERE ACTUALLY GAY HE WOULD BE ONE OF THE MORE REALISTIC GAY CHARACTERS TO GRACE RECENT CEMA. THK ABOUT : MANY TEENS WHO ARE GAY DON'T REALIZE RIGHT AWAY. OR IF THEY DO REALIZE , THEY MAY NOT TALK ABOUT BEE THEY'RE IGHTENED OF PREJUDICE OR HAVE YET TO AL WH THEIR OWN HOMOPHOBIA (OR BOTH). MANY ALSO TRY TO ACT SUPER-HETEROSEXUAL, JT AS SETH DO, TO VER UP THEIR REAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE SETH IS THE ONLY CHARACTER WHO SEEMS GAY, 'S TERTG TO NOTE HOW FOGELL (WHO ULD HAVE EASILY BEEN MA TO A STEREOTYPIL GAY CHARACTER HIMSELF BUT WAS NOT) STRONGLY BONDS WH THE TWO PS (PLAYED BY ROGEN AND BILL HAR) WHO QUTN HIM AFTER A ROBBERY. THIS BONDG ISN'T SEXUAL ANY WAY, BUT IS QUE EMOTNAL AS IS THE RELATNSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO PS, WHO SEEM VERY MUCH LIKE AN OLD MARRIED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU ULD ACCE ME OF LOOKG TOO EPLY AT THIS FILM FOR HTS OF QUEERNS, EXCEPT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE NOTICG THE GAY SUBTEXT. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER'S STEPHEN FARBER SAID THAT “THE IENDSHIP OF SETH AND EVAN HAS HOMOEROTIC UNRTON…. BUT BEE THIS IS AN AMERIN MOVIE, DON'T EXPECT THE ANKNS OF ALFONSO CUARON'S Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, WHICH TOOK THE CLOSE IENDSHIP OF TWO HORNY TEENAGE PALS TO S LOGIL NCLN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}VICTORIA ALEXANR OF NOT THAT “THERE IS NO NYG THE HOMOEROTICISM SUPERBAD. IF THIS WAS A 40S MOVIE, THE FA-OUT AFTER SETH AND EVAN CUDDLE TOGETHER THEIR SLEEPG BAGS, WOULD MEAN ONLY ONE THG. AND THEIR AWKWARDNS THE MORNG NFIRMS ! WELL, AT LEAST DID FOR ME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} TIME'S CRIC RICHARD CORLISS EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO LL THE FILM A BRO-MANCE AND ASKED (ALTHOUGH I'M SURE HE DID SO WH TONGUE AT LEAST PARTIALLY CHEEK) WHY APATOW AND ROGEN DON'T “JT DO THE HONORABLE THG AND TELL THE WORLD THEY'RE GAY? IT WOULD SAVE THEM A LOT OF TIME WASTED PRETENDG THEIR MOVI ARE ABOUT YOUNG MEN GROWG UP AND FDG THE RIGHT YOUNG WOMAN. … IN SUPERBAD … THE QUASI-GAY SUBTEXT IS SO OBV, 'S THE LOVE THAT DAR TO SHRIEK S NAME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ULTIMATELY, SUPERBAD IS ABOUT GUYS BONDG WH GUYS PLATONIC WAYS RATHER THAN ROMANTILLY. NOHELS, IS WORTH AT LEAST ONE VIEWG BY QUEER CEMA FANS, GAY TEENS, AND THEIR POTENTIAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
Not only that, but his behavr is never really fed by the filmmakers as gay, or at the very least, as the behavr of a teen who is qutng his while queer viewers might read Seth as gay or nfed, the rt of the dience will likely not. Bee of this, Superbad remds me of one of those films the pre-Stonewall era where the gayns was strongly suggted but never talked strangely enough, that may be a good thg.
Even though we live the post-Brokeback Mounta age, 's still hard for a gay film to get mastream distributn. Superbad's dancg around the queer issue at least ensur the film gets seen by the mastream, whereas if Seth were actually gay, Superbad would probably be playg ltle art ho or his role would be signifintly smaller. Maybe if the world gets a ltle more gay-iendly the next few years, Seth n get himself a nice boyiend the is also a posive step forward that nobody ever mak fun of Seth for his gay-ish behavr (pecially when the teens make fun of each other for everythg else).
Perhaps 's a tad optimistic, but maybe Superbad uld even help real-life teens be more sensive to guys who are gay, or guys who are straight but don't f to the tradnal heterosexual was Seth himself ever meant to be viewed as gay the first place? Regardls though, if Seth were actually gay he would be one of the more realistic gay characters to grace recent cema.