Very successful when it was released in cinemas, “SuperGrave” quickly acquired its status as a cult film thanks to its devastating humor and wonderfully interpreted characters. Among them, Seth (Jonah Hill) and “McLovin” (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) deliver remarkable major performances, especially since their joint audition during the casting went very badly…
SuperGravea pinnacle of American comedy
In 2007, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg presented their youthful project to the American and international public: SuperGrave. A teenage comedy for which they began writing the screenplay when they were only 13 years old, inspired by their own experience. They wrote and produced this film in 2006, supported by Judd Apatow, with Greg Mottola directing and a cast of young talents who would become stars. Including Jonah Hill and Michael Cera (Seth and Evan in the film) and Emma Stone in his very first appearance in the cinema.
SuperGrave is a great financial and critical success, cashing $170 million in total on a budget of 20 million and becoming one of the most emblematic comedies of the “millennial” generation. His idea is simple, unstoppable: two frankly loser high school students want to party and lose their virginity before university. And to open the doors of the evenings, they undertake to procure alcohol, by defrauding, since they do not have the required 21 years. Of course, nothing will go as planned…
The Seth – Evan duo quickly becomes a trio, with the arrival of the unforgettable Fogell/McLovin, performed by Christopher Mintz-Plasse. He and Seth have a very tense relationship at first, Seth tolerating him above all because he has an asset: a false identity card which allows him to buy alcohol which will give them access to parties.
Often obnoxious to each other on screen, this was also the case during the first meeting between the two actors, during a casting audition. A moment very badly experienced by Jonah Hill, reported by the film crew in the pages of Vanity Fair.
Seth Rogen: “Jonah immediately hated him.”
After having each passed solo auditions, the young actors of SuperGrave were tested together, to see if the chemistry would work. Christopher Mintz-Plasse says that he had a first audition alone, then a second with the director. And finally a third with Jonah Hill and Michael Cera.
Jonah Hill : “Christopher was amazing, and was immediately. And I remember he really annoyed me at that time.“
Greg Mottola : “He acted like he was the coolest guy ever, and everyone else was nerds and losers.“
Christopher Mintz-Plasse : “I was just this very skinny kid. And I was too happy to be there. I had my text signed by Seth and all the others, because I didn’t think I would get the part..”
Judd Apatow : “During the audition, he was very mean and attacked Jonah, and improvised insults towards him.“
Seth Rogen : “Jonah immediately hated him. He was like, ‘It’s screwing up my pace. I can’t work with this guy.’“
Judd Apatow : “Jonah said to me, “I don’t like this guy. I don’t want him to do the part.” And I said, “That’s exactly why we’re hiring him. It’s just perfect. The fact that it annoys you is exactly what we’re looking for.”“
The animosity which thus exists between the two characters in SuperGrave therefore finds a good part of its origin in the first meeting between the two actors, and in the frankly negative opinion that Jonah Hill then conceived of it. Thanks be thus returned to the producers who understood perfectly that the character of “McLovin” and his relationship with Seth/Jonah Hill would be decisive in the success of SuperGrave.
