Knocked Up (2007)

True Apatow Gloriousness

PLACE IN THE HOLY FIVE: Judd Apatow is arguably the best producer of comedy films in the biz. Despite some some recent stinkers), the man has shown than he truly knows how to make great comedy that has as much heart as it does vulgarity. In my opinion, five of his films stand out as top notch. Those five are Superbad, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Pineapple Express, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and this movie, "Knocked Up." While "Knocked Up" is definitely the weakest of the five, it still have everything that makes those good. It's still great, but just not as hilarious and memorable as the other members of the holy five.

THE BEST: Ben has a nice character arc with some really cool development, which really adds a nice level of emotion to the comedy. Because if there is no heart or reason why the story matters, it might as well be a Will Ferrell film. The hilarious and ever crude dialogue is consistently hilarious. There were a lot of laugh-out-loud scenes and lines, and more than enough quotable dialogue that we've come to expect from Apatow films. Also, Seth Rogen is--as always--fantastic. Perhaps best of all, the supporting cast we associate with these films is all here.

THE WORST: It probably could have been a bit shorter. It's not that I was bored, because I wasn't at all; I just think the film could have been tighter had a few scenes been cut. It just seems like a bit less work went into making this as compact a film as other Apatow productions.

MISSING THE POINT: It baffles me that two of the three most popular reviews that get the spotlight are negative... and that they totally missed the point of the movie. Their cheif complaint is that the two main characters are light years apart in sophistication and looks, but in the end, I thought that while Ben (Rogan) was certainly a slacker with a lot he had to work on, he was--at his core--a truly caring person who was able to come through and be the man he needed to be. He was certainly as good a person as Alison (Heigl). And the looks thing? Really? Let's not be shallow, now.

OVERALL: It's a fantastic film, even though it doesn't quite measure up to the best work Apatow and co. have put out. However, that doesn't make it any less watchable. Like the other members of the holy five, it's something that needs to be in your DVD collection if you consider yourself a fan of comedy.

8/10 October 2, 2008

Knocked Up movie

I haven't been too fond of K Heigl, but I have liked this movie and 27 Dresses - I liked how this movie unfolded and ended - maybe I will like her after all - maybe not September 24, 2008

Overdone

This "comedy" is just like all the others out there today. For some reason a movie made flatulance, sex and drugging funny. Because it was a success in that first movie it seems every single "comedy" since has fallen into the same trap. Instead of being original and coming up with their own jokes they copy all the other movies and repeat it verbatim. The only difference is they take different actors and actresses and make it "unpredictable" by changing up where the jokes are going to go. Give it a new name and you have "A fresh and hilarious comedy sure to entertain!"

This is one of those movies. There's no originality (in plot or jokes) and it's annoying to watch. I hate movies that like to get cheap laughs. It's insulting to me but obviously the producers know their audience well because it never fails to get a "falling on the floor crying" response out of 12 year olds. And why, why, WHY do people think the more vulgar a movie is and the more they swear the "cooler" and "funnier" the movie is. I'm so tired of the f-bomb getting dropped every other word. Swearing was cool when you were, say, back in middle school. When you're out of college it just makes you sound like trailer trash and uneducated. And I hate how men think it's OK to be vulgar towards women and women actually think it's OK too! Hilarious.

So if you like stupid (as in really stupid) stuff that has a lot of farting, vulgarity and is unoriginal, this is the movie for you. If you're tired of the same ol' stupidity with a different name, then skip this one (along with 90% of all the other "comedies" out there today). September 23, 2008

A fresh surprise

Other than Paul Rudd, I'd never seen any of the leading actors in anything. This film is a lot of fun. If I have to pick a fave moment it would probably be the initial "bonding" conversation between Alison and Ben's roommate's girlfriend, which captures stoner "logic" better than most such scenes. Re: the relationship between Alison's sister and her husband, I didn't see it as absolutely awful so much as a phase when the marriage was unusually challenged, which, of course, serves as an example of what Ben and Alison don't want to be. A sweet and funny little slice of improbable but vaguely possible life. September 23, 2008

learn to laugh already

I'd like to ask a question from the people who ended up writing angry and bitter reviews about how stupid and juvenile this movie is; what on EARTH were you expecting when you decided to watch a movie with a cover like this titled Knocked Up? come on, the whole movie is based on a nerdy guy who gets a girl pregnant after a drunken one night stand. this is not a cimnematic masterpiece - its predictable, stereotypical, and at times rather vulgar and childish.

is it funny though? absolutely, I was laughing with watering eyes and equally much on the second time I watched it with another group of friends. the movie is filled with funny, over the top characters, offensive cracks you cant help but to laugh at, hilarious punchlines and witty humour. At the same time its actually a somewhat touching story aqbout growing up, growing in and out of love and relationships.

if you have reasonable expectations, a good sense of humour and an open mind, you will most likely enjoy this movie a lot. September 16, 2008

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