The cast behind recent "frat pack" adult comedies deliver yet again with another vulgar yet charming comedy

Rating: 8/10 (2 June 2007)

Anti-PG-13 folks rejoice; there is yet another enjoyable R-rated romantic comedy that is both vulgar and sweet at the same time, while embracing the restricted rating rather than try too hard to receive it. From the writer and director of the awesome sleeper hit The 40-Year Old Virgin comes another film about relationships and the fickle business surrounding it. While this isn't as charming or as funny as the 2005 hit that helped revive the genre of adult comedies, it still contains a heavy dosage of laughs, plenty of insightful commentary about society, and its little bit of bittersweet moments that lightens the mood of the film.
Knocked Up is about two very different people that meet at a bar and engage in a one-night stand. Their moment together was supposed to be the first and only time they would see each other, but upon pregnancy tests it is revealed that Ben Stone (Seth Rogan) and Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) are going to become parents. They now have several months to get to know each other, attempt to be in a relationship for the baby; despite the circumstances and less-than-helpful insight from another couple related to Allison (Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd). Can a carefree jobless druggie and a hard-working yet unsure interviewer bond together for the child they have decided to introduce to the world? The plot, while very believable, doesn't always tread down a path of predictability.
The bittersweet symphony that is Knocked Up can be traced to the excellent acting staff that can portray emotions as well as deliver improvised one-liners. The main couple in this movie, Rogan and Heigl were perfectly cast and despite their obvious differences were able to have plenty of chemistry together. However, Seth Rogan and all his roommates (Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, and Martin Starr) provide almost all the jokes and laughs throughout this movie. The gags and one-liners from the roomies range from chuckles to uncontrollable laughter. Last but not least portraying the troubled couple, Mann and Rudd did a superb job on their own being everything the character Allison did not want in her life.
While the casting is what excels best here, the writing and directing of rising powerhouse Judd Apatow (Virgin, Fun With Dick and Jane, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, even Heavyweights) is a big help as well. Being able to combine crude jokes, sex jokes, with commentary and light drama isn't easy, but like his previous work, Apatow succeeds. While his directing isn't groundbreaking, he knows how to maintain the pace and knows how to handle shots when the actors are in their improvising moods. He doesn't dazzle with any amazing-looking shots and angles, but maintains the humor throughout the picture, which not everyone in Hollywood can do nowadays.
Where this film loses points is in the editing. Surely there are great moments throughout, but there are many moments that were not necessary, that could have been cut without damaging the quality of the movie. The jokes stop flying once the third act begins, which is around the same time then the movie begins to drag. Fortunately though, it doesn't last too long as we see the funny cast together again for the climax, and then the charming ending that doesn't overstay its welcome.
Bottom Line: Fans of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and other works from this new unnamed frat pack that consists of Rogan, Rudd, Mann, Apatow will be pleased with Knocked Up. It is a superbly written comedy with great dialogue, many funny gags, a good chunk of improvisation, and a bit of heart. The acting, writing and directing is great, but unfortunately is marred by rather weak editing. Don't let that bring you down, because the cast makes up for the shortcomings in the cutting process and the running time allowed (over 2 hours for a romantic comedy is rather long). Apatow is beginning to leave a mark on Hollywood, and his cast of actors and actresses are breathing fresh life into a genre that faded into obscurity in the 1990s. These movies are becoming this generation's Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, Stripes, and Animal House. For anyone giving up hope on Hollywood, this is the silver lining that you should see so you can see the light to the end of the mediocrity tunnel.