
Superbad, perhaps the greatest teen coming-of-age film of our modern era, was co-financed by Sony. As it goes, one of the PlayStation platform holders' key stipulations was that Jonah Hill's "vile" character, Seth, could not physically touch or interact with one of its consoles onscreen.
It's a pretty funny revelation, and it comes after writer Seth Rogen was recently asked what the most ridiculous note he had ever received from a production company, better when you recall that Superbad is semi-biographical, with the character of Seth based on Rogen himself (thanks, VGC). He recalls that "Seth was so reprehensible to the studio that they were like, there’s a scene where they’re playing video games and [Sony] was like ‘Jonah can’t touch a PlayStation."
"They were like ‘we can’t have him interact with our products, because it’s too vile a character’ and I was like ‘it’s based on me, that’s very insulting’, but we accommodated them, ultimately."
If, like us, you've seen the film dozens of times, you'll recall the scene in which Michael Cera's character, Evan, is playing PS2, The Getaway: Black Monday, specifically. While the two banter, Seth is instead trying to find something to wear out on their grand adventure; we'll probably never know what cooperative or competitive PS2 game might have been featured instead.
What do you think of this particular note from Sony, in hindsight? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 25
Not really bothered about Superbad but now I want The Getaway games to be rereleased.
And to think that movie is old enough to be on version 1 of 3 of the Last of Us.
That’s hilarious. Didn’t want the toxicity reflected on PlayStation.
But in the real world…it’s everywhere.
I’ve never seen this film before. Barely have even heard it mentioned.
oh wow, so even back then sony was practicing toxic positivity
Superbad’s an interesting one in that several jokes land well and then some really don’t. It’s a relic these days, a specific period of time encased in amber. I can understand why a certain generation would identify with it but I also get why teenagers these days would struggle to see themselves in the situations with just how different things are.
@nomither6 What… that’s just brand management. It would be valid to think it’s miscalculated brand management. Do you know what toxic positivity is?
I'm with @AdamNovice on this! Let's get them rereleased!
@Fluberuper
Was quite popular when it came out and did very well at the box office but yeah it's been almost 20 years and it has arguably not aged well.
"Superbad, perhaps the greatest teen coming-of-age film of our modern era"
Is it? I remember seeing the movie almost a year or so after its release and I found it quite…well, bad.🤷♂️ Granted, I do dislike most of Seth Rogan's works so what do I know.
@IamJT they didn’t want him playing a playstation because of his character’s personality. what does someone’s personality have to do with a video game system they’re playing on? This ain’t a TV commercial/ad , it’s a (comedy) movie. And even by movie standards, it’s still a smug & pretentious move. This ain’t final destination where products have to be hidden so they won’t be stereotyped as being responsible for un-aliving people.
Do YOU know what toxic positivity is?
Mclovin!!!!!! Why??!!!!
Or a personal fav: when the kid spits on the cop, who then clubs him with his nitestick "nice mullet *****" 🤣🤣
@Ichiban Mclovin haha I’d forgotten about that! 🤣🤣
I haven't seen Superbad since it was first released but I do recall it being the rare example of one of those types of comedies that I actually liked. It's extra funny that Sony wouldn't let him touch a PlayStation.
Ah Jonah hill , the epitome of its not what you know,but who, can't stand this buffoon, if i was Sony I wouldn't want him looking at a playstation,never mind touching one.
That's ridiculous if you think about it.come on sony.word up son
@AdamNovice @bingbongboyo The Getaway games are likely never to be released again as they contain so many car licences and branded shop fronts like McDonalds, KFC, Next, HMV, Currys, WHSmith, Virgin to name a few. The disc version was changed to remove the British Telecom logo upon its 2nd printing. One mission had you kill a driver and steal his van.
They can still be played, via Emulation, in much higher quality than they ran back in the day, with a PS4/PS5 controller on PC. Probably on many of the PC handhelds on the Market also.
@nomither6 Toxic positivity is the belief that people should maintain a positive mindset no matter how dire or difficult a situation is. The concord situation. This is overzealous brand management. A completely different thing.
I Am McLovin!
SuperBad is easily one of the best teenage movies ever
Can't have Jonah Hill's character even touching PlayStation but you have the most corrupt politician Frank Underwood from House Of Cards fully promoting PlayStation products? Weird world we live in.
The chorus of agreement about how poorly this movie has aged is kind of amusing. I saw this in a movie theater on opening night, and people were laughing so loud and frequently that you couldn't even hear a few of the jokes. Back in the old days, when comedy was still allowed.
Surprised at these comments!! I watched it throughout high school and rewatched the movie for the first time in like 15 years recently. Laughed just as hard as I did in high school. Yes it's inappropriate for today's age and the jokes land a bit darker, but I love it
@ItsAlwaysSunnyyy seems we have a similar sense of humor based solely on Superbad and It's Always Sunny
@Troubbble ah, yes. The good old days. Because as we know, now we don't have South Park, Family Guy or stand up comedians saying inappropriate things any more. Not after the total ban that was enforced on February 30th.
For a character like that sure (not seen the film yet but know of it). Let alone whatever else they have in the movie/could have had for context of split screen, iLink and more or just sitting there in the scene.
I mean the UK PS2 magazines were ridiculous and allowed so that was ok. XD
Whatever suits them of characters (yet if a customer did that's on them and not hearing about it).
Yet they had a joke in Pixels about Last of Us in a scene near the middle or later half of the movie about violent games. Sony just make up nonsense as they go don't they?
If destruction/mimicking sure. I get why car makers don't want damage or street culture or others in games and them to be featured or ideas to be considered but even still. Don't make games too close to figure then oh way people don't buy them if not recognisable enough, action enough or whatever else. XD
It's always up to users/players/customers regardless.
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