Knocked Up knocks it out of the park.

Rating: 7/10 (13 June 2007)

KNOCKED UP is the latest in a line of comedies that has surfaced in the past few years that I hope lasts a long time, films that don't treat their characters as the butt of jokes or grist for the mill, but instead the film seems to love it's characters and so...we do too. The humor comes to the audience through pure honesty - it's funny...because it's so true, which is the best place for comedy to come from.
When a swinging single young bachelor scores big time while out on the town, he not only spikes the ball...he plants the seed. There are so many directions one can go with a set up like this, but the idea that the couple will go through with the pregnancy...and learn to sincerely love each other, is such a breath of fresh air and optimism in a time when we so need it.
Seth Rogen is the heir apparent to Ben Stiller's thrown of funny regular Jewish guy, and like any good heir should, Rogen kicks things up a notch. His warmth and good humor are all so natural and work so well together that he seems to be a movie star unlike any other. Hollywood spends millions trying to hoist the next matinée idol on us, and here Rogen just sort of slips in and I have to tell you - hand him the trophy, because he's the real deal.
Katherine Heigl too is nothing short of breathtaking...not only is she easy on the eyes, and a wonderful actress, but she's gifted with the comedy too.
The truth is that the film is so breezy and charming that you can't help but to be pulling for it. Judd Apatow is a gifted writer and director, with not only an ear for what's funny, but the balls to put it out there and trust the audience won't pass a negative judgment on the characters. Lines like: "Don't let the door hit your pu**y on the way out." I mean...ya gotta love it. He also made The 40 year Old Virgin, if you haven't seen that already - rent it.
Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, and the rest of the cast seem to be having so much fun here it's infectious. Can you tell I liked the film? I will say there were parts of it that really reminded me of an old indie film called COURTING COURTNEY that I picked up ages ago, it's not exactly a remake...but there seemed to be slight organ transplants which were all just a loving nod to this little seen no budget indie gem.
Biggest laugh was Leslie Mann trying to get into a bar and being told she couldn't because she was too old. The doorman, whom I believe was played by an actor named Craig Robinson, was PITCH PERFECT with lines like:
"You old, she pregnant. Can't have a bunch of old pregnant bi****s running around. That's crazy, I'm only allowed to let in five percent black people. He said that, that means if there's 25 people here I get to let in one and a quarter black people. So I gotta hope there's a midget in the crowd."
For that kind of dialog alone...KNOCKED UP is worth the admission, and in this day and age of admission prices, that's saying something.