Pleasantly surprised, yet again, by Apatow and friends

Rating: 10/10 (25 September 2007)

I think like most people who saw "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" back in 2005, I walked into "Knocked Up" expecting a cheap sex comedy but was pleasantly surprised by something that was indeed funny with a lot of sexual humor and jokes but found something else as well: intelligence. "Knocked Up" is a miracle, a rare comedy with intelligence, written with respect for the characters by writer/director Judd Apatow (who was also behind the camera for "Virgin" two years ago). Apatow takes the time to let these characters grow on you, and to let them do a little growing themselves. Ben Stone ("Virgin" alumni Seth Rogen) is a pot-smoking 20-something slacker who shares a hip bachelor pad with four other 20-something slackers who are hoping to begin raking in the dough with an Internet website that details your favorite actresses in their best movie nude scenes. Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is a career-driven celebrity newswoman who gets a promotion and is next seen interviewing big stars such as Steve Carell, James Franco, and Jessica Simpson with chatty "Entertainment Tonight"-style patter. To celebrate, she goes with her sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) to a club where Ben and his buddies happen to be getting their grooves on. One thing leads to another and in a drunken romp back at her pad, the two hit it off in the sack. Eight weeks later, after Allison has put the somewhat boorish Ben behind her, she is shocked to discover she's pregnant - with Ben's child. Needless to say, neither takes the news lightly. Well, Ben and Allison decide they're going to try to make it work, for the baby's sake. "Knocked Up" is an intelligent comedy; I know I already said that but I'm going to say it again. What I found most appealing about this movie is that the two leads are real people, treated with dignity and respect by Apatow's writing, who in their own separate ways are really forced to grow up, fast, within a nine-month time-frame. And that's what this comedy is about - growing up. Before Allison came into his life, Ben was likely to remain an aimless slacker living with his best buds, smoking weed, boozing, and living off an insurance settlement from a few years earlier. Now with a baby on the way, he now knows that he has to take some responsibility and be a man. It's a transformation that is difficult for him but guaranteed that because "Knocked Up" is a Hollywood romantic comedy, he, Allison, and their new bundle of joy will turn out okay. The only problem I have (which I think is more personal than anything else) is that I would have liked to see a little bit of Ben and Allison in their new life together with their baby, married, and in a brand-new house.
10/10