It could have been so much more

Rating: 6/10 (5 October 2007)

We like the characters, and the premise is inspired, it just isn't very funny. Seth Rogen was hilarious in the 40 Year Old Virgin but he isn't funny here. I liked his character very much but he doesn't generate any laughs. For the most part a lot of the stoner jokes could be found in your average Cheech and Chong film.
The movie's too intelligent to be funny but not intelligent enough to be a black comedy. Knocked Up doesn't know what it wants to be in the long run. This lack of direction is what makes me give the film a negative view. We go from touching scenes to jokes about pot which are supposed to be funny but fall short.
Like it or not Seth Rogen is generally touching in the lead. We feel for him more than we probably should in a comedy like this. I see a lot of dramatic potential in him too. The dialogue he is given is poor at times, he goes into swearing fits which have nothing to do with the story or are even intended to be funny.
The premise is really inspired. I had to laugh when I saw the trailers and tag lines. The world this premise is in doesn't make it funny.
Judd Apatow is a very intelligent writer but he wants a gross out comedy when he has so much more potential. Knocked Up is only a few rewrites from becoming a Charlie Kaufman-esqe film.
If Judd Apatow wants to make Gross out films it's his loss, there is so much more potential though