“Knocked Up”
Director Judd Apatow
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
(Out Of 5)
The hard-to-miss poster for “Knocked Up” labels the film as “the next comedy from the director of “˜The 40-Year-Old Virgin.'” However, with an impeccable script, great acting and more than a few vulgarities mixed in for laughs, writer and director Judd Apatow has reached new ground.
While moviegoers will probably still be quoting “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” for a few more years, “Knocked Up” manages to improve on the few gray areas of its pseudo-predecessor, such as the plot.
This time around, there is no confusion as the story remains cohesive and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. The film sees an unlikely couple meet and subsequently (drunkenly) sleep together one night, only to find out two months later that they will be having a child together.
As the stoner-slacker Ben (Seth Rogen) tries to forge a better life beyond bongs and Ping-Pong, and Alison (Katherine Heigl) tries to adjust her existing life plans for the new life about to begin, sparks helplessly begin to fly.
Though conflicts are resolved too easily at some points throughout, Apatow’s writing is still spot-on. His script yields a rare balance of f-bombs and boob jokes with the more understated and heartfelt scenes, especially those between the parents-to-be. A great subplot also emerges from Alison’s sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) and her husband Pete (Paul Rudd).
Hilarity is found in the most outrageous and unthinkable places ““ the curt and rude gynecologist, Alison’s work (featuring a priceless scene with the one and only Ryan Seacrest), and Las Vegas’ Mystère-Cirque du Soleil spectacle just to name a few.
Besides the excellent dialogue and plot points, the acting of the main quartet (Rogen, Heigl, Mann and Rudd) makes the film even more believable and lovable. Rudd and Mann are on top of their games as grouchy, middle-aged parents. However difficult a task to steal the show from these comedic veterans, both leads pass with flying colors. Heigl transforms into a true comedy treasure almost instantaneously and Rogen surprises as a strong leading man.
There may be fewer quotable scenes than in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” but in the end, “Knocked Up” definitely still delivers.
““ Kate Stanhope
E-mail Stanhope at kstanhope@media.ucla.edu.