Funny, honest and warm hearted!

Rating: 9/10 (3 June 2007)

"Knocked Up" / 2006 / Released: June 1, 2007 / Viewed: June 3, 2007 / Comedy
***.5 (Very Good)
Written and Directed by: Jude Apatow / Running time: 129 minutes
"Knocked Up" is a surprisingly well written, acted and directed film from Jude Apatow "The 40 Year Old Virgin", 2005. I have not seen "The 40 Year Old Virgin", nor any other films from this director-writer. I was impressed by the honesty, humor and sweetness of the film. This film has a title I took a quick liking to. The title promised an honest film, and the film delivers in that respect among others.
A young, attractive and ambitious female E! television host meets a young lazy, immature and unambitious young man at a bar while she is celebrating a promotion at work. They drink together and quickly become friendly. This leads to an unexpected sexual encounter. The problem is, that 8 weeks later, she learns she is pregnant from their one night stand sex encounter.
Director-writer Jude Apatow shows a lot of insight into anxieties about relationships and pregnancy. With an unusually long running time for a comedy (2 hours and 9 minutes), this film takes time to really develop it's two main characters and follow their story over the next 7 months with humor, honesty and sensitivity. Considering the long running time, and this is a comedy film, the film never feels stretched out or too long. With a cast of largely unknown actors and the insightful screenplay, the main and supporting characters come across as convincingly real and ordinary.
The few weaknesses are some occasional moments of humor and character types typically found in crude adolescent comedy films. What really makes this film a winner is it's screenplay, directing and acting, in that order. The film initially appears to be a man's film, however it spends a generous amount of time with some strong female characters, that convincingly speak with honesty and sensitivity.
Director-writer Apatow is a former television comedy writer. With this film, he shows he is very keen on finding and exploring the anxieties, humor and warm feelings found in romantic relationships. And he is being honest and straightforward with his characters and how they express themselves. The story involves some male and female bonding, to help cope with and make it through difficult personal situations. The lead man and woman each pair off with a same sex friend, bond and travel off to have some fun together. It's here that they really learn about themselves and realize they need to return home and bravely face their difficult and awkward personal circumstances in life.
Definitely one of the better written, directed and acted comedies of recent years!