Knocked Up

Rating: 10/10 (2 June 2007)

Knocked Up is about a young man named Ben Stone who doesn't work and just sits around and hangs out with his friends hoping they can get a celebrity nudity site off the ground. One night at a bar Ben meets Alison Scott and one thing leads to another and after not seeing each other for awhile she finds out that she is pregnant with his child. Alison gets back in touch with Ben and the two of them try to work things out and accept that they have a few things to change and accept while making way for a baby in their lives. The film is a comedy, but with some heartfelt and dramatic moments as well. Knocked Up is by the co-writer and director of The 40 Year Old Virgin which is one of my favourite comedies of the last few years and one of my favourite films of 2005. Once again writer/director Judd Apatow blends together crude comedy, drama and a lot of life situations that are actually very well thought out and written. Someone going by the trailer of this film might dismiss it as being a stoner comedy or just another crudely done sexual movie. Well the film does have those moments and when it does it is often very funny and some of the jokes referencing things from pop culture to just plain buddy talk is also well written with sharp dialogue and works because of the great writing and from the great performances by the main stars and it's strong supporting cast as well. The film works also as a film about dealing with the future and issues that like it or not, may happen to a lot of people out there, but instead of condoning what they do the film shows the good times and bad and also how Ben and Alison start to grow on each other and how willing they are to work with each other for their upcoming child. The dramatic scenes are also played out with humour and work well with it's more gentle and softer side that works well also because of good character chemistry and the fact that we are able to believe these characters and what are happening to them and because of the sharp writing, performances and humour that go along with it. In a month where we are bombarded with unnecessary Hollywood sequels and just bad popcorn films, I hope that people will go see Knocked Up because of how well it works on so many levels and because of the talent and skill behind it. It will appeal to those looking for a date movie or a comedy and this film will appeal to both men and women. Knocked Up is certainly one of the most entertaining films of the year so far and also one of the most thought provoking and genuinely sincere and funny films of the year as well. This will be one of my most favourite films of 2007 and after two great films in a row I look forward to seeing what Judd Apatow brings us next because for a modern day comedy when most of what we see is unoriginal and just isn't very good, this is the exception and it is a comedic masterwork.