Just Do It Already!

Movie Review: Knocked Up




...That's what she said! First, let me warn you that this movie is longer than expected and does not fall into the Stupid-Humor category. So if you are a fan of Judd Apatow movies and TV shows, you should truly appreciate this movie in its entirety.

The premise of this flick (if you don't already know), is about a young loser-type Ben who is just as shocked as the audience when he is able to hook-up with the hottie Allison in a very 'productive' one-night stand. In writer-director Judd Apatow's follow-up to The 40 Year-Old Virgin, he writes what he knows and puts together the geeky stoner who refuses to grow up and get a job, with the highly successful and beautiful girl who is used to getting everything she ever wanted.

As usual, Apatow develops his characters incredibly well and gives us such a large and fun cast of supporting characters that the lengthy flick doesn't seem it at all. His ability to build his usual band of freaks (everyone has a connection to Apatow - either family or previous cast members), helps to create this world that you feel you are truly a part of.

The acting in this movie is so good, it is hard to remember they are acting. Let's start with the leads - Katherine Heigl plays our put together leading lady Allison, who shows such familiar emotions, especially when she is staring at Ben's naked butt in her bed and is trying to figure out how she ended up in this situation. Her roller-coaster of emotions, most of which are due to the pregnancy, allow her to help us feel her pain as she is trying to figure out what to do with this guy with the Peter Pan complex.

Next is Seth Rogen, plays the nervous but loveably and goofy Ben. He is so lost and cannot figure out how to get his shit together to be the dad he thinks he wants to be. As the movie goes on, you find yourself wanting to root for him.

One of the best sub-plots is the relationship between Allison's sister, Debbie (played by Leslie Mann) and brother-in-law, Pete (played by Paul Rudd). They steal the screen several times in the movie as their problems are a warning bell to the Allison-Ben budding coupling. Mann, Apatow's wife, is amazing and as the movie progresses, she goes from a complete bitch - who honestly is saying everything we are thinking - to someone who you truly end up loving. One of the best scenes in the movie takes place outside a night club when older Debbie and pregnant Allison are refused entry and she goes postal on the Doorman, played by The Office's Craig Robinson. Talk about brutal honesty being roll-on-the-floor hysterical! And its hard not to love Rudd's portrayal of a guy who just doesn't get the family life he is up to his eyeballs in. I love him in anything he does - why has no one given him his own movie, yet! Honorable mention goes to the real-life daughters of Apatow who play Debbie and Pete's kids. They stole the show once or twice, themselves.

The merry band of freaks that play Ben's friends and housemates is a list of Apatow graduates that keep us entertained throughout the entire movie. Jay Baruchel, from Undeclared, plays Jay, a silly stoner with the worst hair in history. Martin Starr, from Freaks & Geeks, plays Martin, another stoner who agrees not to cut his hair or beard for a year in order to cover his rent. Little did he realize part of the deal was he would have to endure all the jokes about his every-worsening appearance from his buddies? Jonah Hill, plays Jonah, was the boot-guy from Virgin. And finally, Jason Segel plays Jason (aren't these names original?), from Undeclared, Freaks & Geeks and non-Apatow show, How I Met Your Mother. I think he was my favorite!

The laughs are spread out throughout the movie, so even with the serious relationship issues portrayed; you cannot help but laugh along with the reality airing on the big screen. This movie is so much more realistic than Virgin, but only because how many 40-year olds do you know who still have their 'virtue' left in tact?

With the pop culture references ("Matthew Fox — you know what's interesting about him? Absolutely nothing!'') and the off-the-cuff remarks ("Gynecology is a hobby of mine."), you won't want to miss a minute of this sharp and hilarious commentary of such a believable storyline. This movie is truly a breath of fresh air and reminds me why I have so enjoyed just about everything Apatow has put out there.

Currently listening :
Wincing the Night Away
By The Shins
Release date: By 23 January, 2007