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 2007 R / Comedy Romance Directed by: Starring: |
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Summary Capsule
- Remember that girl you knew in high school who was dating the quarterback and then went away to be, uh, "home schooled" for six months? Yeah, it's kind of like that.
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Drew's Rating: How drunk do you have to be to forget how to use a condom? It's got two steps.
Drew's Review: Longtime readers may remember my Wedding Crashers review, in which I expressed surprise that in the early afternoon on a Saturday, our theater was packed with old people. At the time I figured it was a coincidence, but now I know better: they're following me. That's the only explanation I can think of for the fact that, midday on a weekend, the wife and I again sat down at one of the raunchiest films of the year and stared in amazement as the row in front of us filled with senior citizens. As I watched, an old lady leaned over to one of the only two people in the row below AARP range and asked, "Do you young people today still say 'knocked up'?" I kid you not.
Anyway, let's just talk about the film. Knocked Up finds Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) finally realizing her ambition: as soon as she can "tighten up" about 10 pounds, she'll be appearing on camera as an interviewer for E! (I know… bitch stole my dream too.) To celebrate, she heads out to a local club and encounters Ben (Seth Rogen), a slacker who lives for smoking pot, scouring films for celebrity nudity, and… did I mention smoking pot? The two have zero in common, but as many of us know all too well, alcohol renders that minor detail completely irrelevant; so they return to her place and begin, er, doing things it's uncomfortable to watch in front of old people. The end result, as you'll be shocked to hear unless you somehow know the movie's title, is that Alison ends up "in a family way." When she (awkwardly) breaks the news to Ben, the two decide to take an (awkward) stab at being a couple and raising the child together, but only if they can survive several dozen funny (but awkward) pregnancy pitfalls that are both odd and, yet, somehow very believable.
Let's not beat around the bush: it's a VERY familiar concept for a movie. Young, unwed singles freaking out over an unplanned pregnancy is a Hollywood staple we've all seen a dozen times. So please, if you take nothing else away from this review, know this: you will not care. You won't care because, without exaggeration, Knocked Up is the funniest, most realistic iteration of the cliché you've ever seen. My wife compared it to Anchorman, one of the few "dumb" comedies she likes, in terms of hilarity, but truthfully, Knocked is far more down-to-earth. I'm positive there's not a damn thing in it that hasn't been said or done by real people in that situation, and while the characters have their share of emotional reactions, it's all within the realm of believability. Ben doesn't instantly become ultra-responsible superdad when he finds out he's going to be a father, but nor does he stupidly assume his life will remain the same; he simply undergoes a gradual shift in priorities with occasional backsliding, presented in an honest, refreshing manner. Likewise, Alison doesn't expect him to instantly fall in love or marry her, but she doesn't try to ditch him either… she just tells him she's keeping the baby and offers to let him be involved if he wants. Both agree to try dating, but neither is deluded into thinking theirs is a destined lifelong romance.
But while Rogen and Heigl are appealing leads and could make the film enjoyable by themselves, what puts it over the edge is our "B" couple, Alison's sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) and her husband Pete (Paul Rudd). Even more than Ben and Alison, they're incredibly grounded characters who have perhaps the most realistic, no-BS marriage I've ever seen depicted on screen… which for you single types may be either an incentive or a deterrent, I don't know. Either way, I think a key factor in their appeal is that the filmmakers were careful to show them still maintaining outside interests, that getting married and having kids didn't instantly become the sole, defining aspect of their lives. Both love their children, but Pete still likes playing fantasy baseball and taking road trips to Vegas; Debbie still wants to go out to clubs some nights and have guys hit on her. That's real, that's how our lives actually work, not some sanitized Rockwellian fantasy. Spouses and kids, if you have any, should absolutely be the highest priorities in your life, just not your only focal point, and I think having both couples strive to achieve that balance — Ben and Alison getting their crap together for the coming baby, Pete and Debbie finding the right level of involvement with each other — really helps the film as a whole.
While I'd like to, I can't claim the movie was completely without fault. There are no prolonged unfunny stretches, but a few of the jokes could have been trimmed to keep things under two hours. In particular, I wouldn't mind losing the subplot about the endless search for an obstetrician, as well as most of the stuff with the rude replacement doctor. On the other hand, Ben's friends raise the bar for movie stoner buddies everywhere by actually being funny (how did they come up with that many jokes about facial hair?), and I could have used even more of Ben and Pete's trip to Vegas… their almost-but-not-quite-gay friendship rivals J.D. and Turk's on Scrubs, and there's no such thing as too many Swingers references. I'm not sure what else there is to say about Knocked Up — it's the funniest film of the year so far, the male leads are entertaining and the females are attractive (and entertaining), and while it's mainstream, the director and some cast members hail from Freaks and Geeks, so cult purists can watch with a clear conscience. If you haven't seen it yet, definitely go check it out. Just keep an eye out for those seniors — they bite.
Justin's Rating: Drew... we need to talk. I'm going to have your baby.
Justin's Review: Like his 40-Year-Old Virgin, Judd Aptow's Knocked Up centers a serious, mature discussion in the middle of vulgar hilarity. It amuses me to no end that liberals have decried this film as a tool of the Conservative Imperial Empire, just because a girl wants to keep her baby instead of throwing it out, and a guy makes a decision to support her. Oh no! How… um… terrible!
Like the time I said to myself, "Hey, why not use a metal knife to cut through a live electrical wire so I can avoid having to move an entire bookcase while detaching a lamp?", Knocked Up is the story of a mistake, its consequences, and how people either pony up some responsibility or shirk away from it. When stoner-slacker-perv Ben accidentally gets overachiever-host-supermodel Alison pregnant, the question is, how will they survive this rocky, bumpy road to its placenta-filled end… or will they?
As Drew wrote (penned with a quill plucked from the wing of an angel, no doubt), Knocked Up's greatest appeal is that these characters defy boring Hollywood stereotypes or reality TV's despicable humanity, but instead achieve a sort of uncertain "realness" about them. Ben's a nice guy, but basically clueless about life, women and (especially) parenthood; Alison is a bit of a spaz, floundering with this new, great responsibility planted in her womb; and Alison's sister and her husband show a married couple that are navigating a relationship that isn't always what the advertisements made it up to be. You can just see, out of the corner of your eye, the "Hollywoodized" version of Knocked Up, replete with a sappy soundtrack, a sweeping romance that makes no mention of morning sickness, and a final resolution that ends with a $1,000,000 wedding on a clear blue sunny day. (Wait, we've seen that movie, haven't we? Nine Months, with Robin Williams as a baby doctor? I tried ever-so-hard to put that one out of my noggin.)
Knocked Up, on the other hand, shows a mismatched couple that have to seriously ask themselves, can you grow into loving each other after the fact? I can see people screaming at the screen to just dump the baby, break up this relationship which is obviously not star-crossed, and resume safe, normal, planned lives. But that's not how it always happens in the real world, and Aptow spins a tale of two people who consciously decide to make it work, to explore the future of love instead of the present, and to avoid the pitfalls of marriage/kids that they see around them.
My wife, who was having an off-day when we went to see this, giggled herself sick (her favorite part, for some reason, was the gas mask bong hit — I think there's a lot about my wife I've yet to learn), and we both had plenty of those "they did NOT just say/show that!" moments. Good times. The best you can have, even with flat Coke and non-reclinable theater seats. It made us wonder what our lives would be like in ten years — what will our kids look like? (Hairy.) Would any of the passion or romance remain, or would we be so solidly entrenched into a routine of marriage that we'll have long forgotten the simple joys and pleasures of a good morning noogie? (Heck, no!) Will we become obsessed with changing the other person that we'll forget how to just love them for who they are? (Dude, I forget who I am most of the time.)
Yeah, so, serious chunks baked into a rich comedy of goodness. Awesome movie. Ten thumbs up. Two buttcracks of approval. Six nostrils flared of outrageous surprise. Sixteen firm femurs of originality.
Lissa's Rating: Is it ironic we didn't see this in theaters because we couldn't get a baby sitter?
Lissa's Review: So, Drew and Justin have already reviewed Knocked Up, and they've praised it to the skies. You can read all the wonderful things that they say right above this review, and frankly, I wish you would because it saves me the effort of doing a plot recap. But when it comes to reputed "gross out" comedies, I'm always wary of there only being a male opinion out there. I am a firm believer that an appreciation for fart jokes is embedded somewhere on the Y chromosome, but the presence of two X chromosomes results rather in a desire for meaningful conversation and humor that does not focus on gaseous emissions. In other words, just because two guys (even thoughtful, sensitive guys like our staff) say you should see this comedy isn't going to get women running towards the shelves.
Anyway. If you've read this site at all, you know I have a toddler. More than that, I'm also something like seven months pregnant now. I think it's seven months; pregnancy math is confusing. Anyway, as you can expect, I was going to either be sniffing in disdain or loving every second of a movie about pregnancy — especially when written by a guy. And all I can say is…
Oh my God, this was me.
Not the whole thing, obviously. For one, aside from the same hair color, I look nothing like Alison (Katherine Heigl), nor do I have a job anything like her or live with my sister. Duckie looks nothing like Ben (Seth Rogan), and has a real job. Our romance was normal and therefore is as cinematically boring as possible (although there is a part that involves alligators which makes for more entertaining storytelling). So, yeah, the set up is not remotely the same. But there were scenes in this that made me fall over laughing because I swear to God, Jude Apatow is sneaking around in our house somewhere and listening to me complain. I have NEVER seen such an accurate depiction of pregnancy and childbirth in the movies. NEVER.
It's not so much the physical symptoms. In fact, in a lot of ways the movie skips over that, and I'm glad. It's very easy to find information on morning sickness, stretch marks, and aching backs. But when Alison breaks down and shouts about how her whole life (and body) has been taken over and nothing is the same anymore or ever will be again… well, I don't know how much Apatow totally understood what he was having his character say, but it was obvious he actually listened to his wife during her pregnancies. And the whole aspect about still trying to find your own life and your own time and interests even as this little person comes and attaches themselves to your leg… I doubt there are many parents who can't empathize with that. I really liked that the movie emphasized what a balancing act parenthood (and spousedom) can be, and that while it is all worth it, it's definitely not easy. It was so nice to see a movie portray parenthood as something other than martyrdom or pure, heavenly bliss.
Outside of pregnancy identity issues, there's been a lot said about the implausibility of Alison and Ben getting together for a one night stand. To be honest, I didn't think it was implausible at all. In fact, I thought for once someone in Hollywood actually made a character that didn't place appearance at the top of their "things to be attracted to" list. I mean, Seth Rogan might not be a total hottie, but he's not utterly hideous, either. He's kind of… normal. And something that was obvious - and consistent - in Alison's character was that she was extremely attracted to a sense of humor. It was very nice to see that, as well as the specific reasons Alison became disillusioned about Ben, and Ben's gradual growth.
Another much ballyhooed aspect is the crude humor and language. So often people make the argument that R-rated humor in movies represents real life. So often I don't believe it, because I know plenty of people who can make truly funny jokes about things other than sex and without profanity. Apatow has a rare talent for actually honestly reflecting R-rated humor in real life. The humor didn't just not take away from the main plot of the movie, but actually enhanced it. This is one of the few movies I've ever seen that I truly felt would have been a lesser movie without some of the cruder jokes.
Like I said, I do feel like I'm blowing my fanfare long after the procession has marched by. But hey, it's nice for a change to see a movie that's so good you have to tell everyone else to see it, and it's nice to have a forum to have that freedom. So. Go rent Knocked Up. Definitely worth it.
 "I don't care, I don't want any cake! You're not my real dad!"
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- How many cast members from The Office can you fit into one movie? I counted 3, as well as 4 from Freaks and Geeks.
- Hey, first time I've ever liked Ryan Seacrest!
- Lady Luck, regarding Katherine Heigl: "She is so hot, it's ridiculous."
- Debbie is played by Leslie Mann, wife of director Judd Apatow, and her and Pete's kids are Mann and Apatow's actual children.
- Ladies, let this be a lesson to you — if you don't see the condom go on, it's not on.
- "Taken care of"? Lovely euphemism there.
Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?
In a pretty cute sequence, they show baby pictures of all of the cast and crew's kids. Awww.
Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]
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Supposedly Knocked Up was originally planned as a direct follow-up to The 40-Year-Old Virgin, following Seth Rogen's character and his friends from Smart Tech.
Groovy Quotes
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Jill: Oh no, we're not asking you to lose weight… that would be illegal. We just want you to be healthy! So go home, weigh yourself on a scale, write that down. Then subtract 20 from that number. And weigh that.
Alison: I love your curly hair! You don't use product or anything?
Ben: No, uh, I use "Jew," that's what I use.
Ben: Good thing I'm drunk, this is lasting forever. I just doubled my record time!
Ben: You couldn't tell I didn't have a condom on?!
Alison: I don't know, I was drunk!
Ben: Was your vagina drunk?
Gynecologist: Oh, you do look a lot like your sister!
Jason: Why did we go to Costco and buy a year's supply of condoms if you weren't going to use them?!
Ben: I'm the best thing that ever happened to you?
Dad: Yeah!
Ben: Well now I just feel bad for you.
Ben: Actually, it makes sense that Pete would be cheating.
Alison: What? Why?
Ben: 'Cause Debbie's a pain in the ass and Pete's awesome.
Debbie: I like Spider-Man!
Pete: Marriage is like an unfunny, tense version of Everybody Loves Raymond. But it doesn't last 22 minutes. It lasts forever.
Pete: You look like Babe Ruth's gay brother. Gaybe Ruth.
Ben: Well played, sir.
Alison: I'm sorry I told you to [screw] your bong.
Ben: It's okay… I didn't…
Debbie: He's playing fetch... with my kids... he's treating my kids like they're dogs.
Jack: We decided that, we want you to be on camera.
Alison Scott: Oh my god, really?
Jill: I know, I was so surprised too.
Pete: I wish I liked anything as much as my kids like bubbles.
Pete: There are five different types of chairs in this hotel room.
Ben Stone: That's way too many chairs for one room!
Debbie: [to Alison] Are you the lady who doesn't realize she's pregnant until she's sitting on the toilet and the kid pops out?
Ben Stone: Your face looks like Robin Williams' knuckles.
Soundtrack Review
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Quite an eclectic mix of songs, including classic rock, alternative, and club music… you'll probably like at least some of it. And since I haven't mentioned it yet today, "Smile" by Lily Allen rules. Something about that British accent…
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This review page was last updated on 10.15.07
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