>>REVIEW
KNOCKED UP
STARRING Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl and Paul Rudd
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Judd Apatow
Opens Friday, June 1
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Writer-director Judd Apatow scored big at the box office with 2005’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Since that movie single-mindedly focused on getting a man laid, it seems appropriate that Apatow would follow it with Knocked Up, a film that deals with the results of that action.
After a drunken one-night stand, Ben (Seth Rogen) and Alison (Katherine Heigl) discover that they are unwilling parents to be. Since Alison is an image conscious entertainment reporter and Ben spends the bulk of his time smoking pot and obsessing about softcore porn with his buddies, they also discover that they might not make the best child-rearing pair. It’s a simple premise rife with comic possibility, but what makes Knocked Up so special is that it doesn’t go for laughs at the expense of its characters.
In addition to The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Apatow was responsible for the critically acclaimed but sadly under-watched coming-of-age TV series Freaks and Geeks. The strength of the show was always its realistic characters. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Knocked Up is as successful as it is. Don’t be mistaken, this is a big summertime comedy loaded with bodily-function humour, but it’s also got a heart of gold. With strong writing and equally strong performances by Rogen and Heigl, when the film decides to play for keeps instead of copping out with comedy, audiences will care so much for the characters that it won’t matter that the jokes have slowed down.
For a movie about pregnancy, Knocked Up isn’t as baby crazy as you might expect. In fact, what makes the film work so well is how universal the story is. An unexpected pregnancy gets the ball rolling, but ultimately it’s just a clever cover for a romantic comedy that explores the differences between men and women. Apatow’s ear for dialogue offers scenes that anyone who has been in a relationship can relate to, whether you are a parent or not. He also writes cheap laughs as well as he does touching moments.
Of course good scripting, character development and realism might not be what you are looking for in a comedy, but even in that case Knocked Up still delivers. The film is awash in clever pop culture references, cheesy running gags and poo humour. The supporting cast is full of great performances and winking cameos from some of Apatow’s regulars. There is even gratuitous nudity. Best of all it never feels forced and even with a two-hour plus running time, it never runs out of gas. |
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