McLovin
The Superbad Star Reflects on Filming a Sex Scene in Front of His Mom
:: for The Stranger
“It wasn’t that awkward. It’s not like I was really having sex.”
The beloved McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), from the beloved movie Superbad, plays bass. His band Bear On Fire is a bit of alt-blues hinting at golden-era ’70s melodic rock. He spoke from his home in Los Angeles.
Do you get sick of people asking you McLovin questions? I mean, it’s one of the greatest adolescent characters of any film, of all time, ever. Up there with Anthony Michael Hall in Sixteen Candles.
Without that role, I wouldn’t have had a career in movies. I wouldn’t have bought a drum kit. There are so many things that role has affected in my life. I did a charity event with Seth Rogen a couple weeks ago where we flew to a college and watched the movie while doing live commentary. It was the first time I’d seen it in its entirety in eight years. And it’s still good and still funny. So I’m proud of it. But when I’m talking about the band, I don’t want to make it about my movie career or McLovin. Because it takes away from the five other guys in the band, who work hard. So I don’t ever want to make it about just me. The McLovin stuff doesn’t really annoy me unless you’re blackout drunk and you’re putting your arms around me and you’re yelling about how you want to buy me a shot. That’s when it gets a little out of hand.
Please tell me about your mom having to be in the room when you filmed your McLovin love scene.
I was 17 when I filmed it, and because of legal issues with shooting a sex scene when you’re under the age of 18, a parental adviser has to be on set. It’s the dumbest rule ever. So my mom had drive down and chill on set while I shot my sex scene [laughs].
Was it awkward? Or was she like, “NO, Chris, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG”?
It wasn’t that awkward. It’s not like I was really having sex. I think she had fun hanging around with the producers on the set. She was a proud mother. She was giving me tips.
You acted throughout high school, right? Did you do music then, as well?
I did theater classes when I was like 8 years old. And every year after, I did drama productions. Superbad was my first movie. I was 17 years old and got some money from doing that movie. What does a young guy go out and buy himself with money he’s just made [laughs]? The first thing I did was buy a drum kit. I’d always loved music, but I didn’t really start playing until then.
What music did you play to when you were learning?
White Stripes. Meg is such a simple, yet tasteful drummer. The first drumbeat I wanted to learn was “Hand of Doom” by Black Sabbath. It’s the coolest beat.
Nice choice. Sabbath is music history.
Yes. Classic rock. When they started playing again recently, I guess Ozzy called out the original drummer Bill Ward for being too fat. He said: “You’re out of shape, man. You’re not going to be able to play three-hour sets every night.”