"Knocked Up" Delivers Comic Gold; brilliantly executed with a stellar cast; Apatow is on a roll

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2007)

KNOCKED UP (2007) **** Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr, Charlyne Yi, Iris Apatow, Maude Apatow, Joanna Kerns, Harold Ramis, Alan Tudyk, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Ken Jeong, Craig Robinson, Tim Bagley, Loudon Wainwright III, Adam Scott, Mo Collins, BJ Novak. (Cameo: Steve Carell as himself) Uproariously hysterical comedy about a one-night stand between a stoner slacker(Rogen in a career-making highpoint performance) and hottie newly appointed E! channel telejournalist (Heigl, ditto) that results in the titular situation causing the two unlikely parents commingling and coming to terms with doing the right thing, the love/hate relationship between the sexes and ultimately falling in love  not necessarily in that order. Filmmaker Judd Apatow mixes the right amount of hilarity with heart, sweetness with raunch  a formula he perfected with '05's smash hit comic blockbuster THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN  and proves to be the smart, go-to-guy for high-concept comedies in Hollywood. Kudos to the fine supporting ensemble including the always dependable, adroit comic genius of Rudd and Mann  real-life Mrs. Apatow  also brilliant as Heigl's brother-in-law and older sister who serve as the template for her situation and the Greek chorus quartet of Rogen's roomie buds Segel, Baruchel, Hill and Starr providing so many off-shooting one-liner guffaws, repeated viewings are a must. The funniest comedy of the year.