Not Every Character Needs a Soulmate

I just got back from seeing Bourne Ultimatum for the second time. God, that movie's fun. I also saw Superbad recently, and though I normally hate comedies (not all comedies, not Bill Murray comedies), this one had me on the floor. And I realized today that both films are good for the same reason.

Its not that either one reinvents the wheel. Borne is an action movie. There's a muscley hero, shadowy government, young blonde, fight scenes, car chases, yada yada. And it's not like Superbad does anything Adam Sandler, American Pie, or Ben Stiller haven't already tortured us with. They couldn't have fit in any more cum jokes if they tried.

But both movies also avoid the usual pitfalls of action, comedy and, for that matter, most films: sentimentality. Bourne doesn't even kiss anyone this time around, never mind spending the whole ninety minutes rescuing some useless dye-job. And in Superbad, while the duo spends the whole movie in pursuit of sex, it's obvious that the writers were less interested in underaged tail than in awkward adolescent interaction. Most movies these days turn into thinly veiled romantic comedies as soon as the premise is established, so it's refreshing to see how good a movie can be when its plot serves some purpose other than getting the male lead laid.