Pregnant without a pause: Knocked Up

A review of Knocked Up

Irreverent, humorous and that one quality that you never really thought it would be – touching - Knocked Up is the quintessential urban romantic comedy. Ambitious TV reporter Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) has just got a promotion and goes to a nightclub to celebrate with her sister. She winds up having what she thinks is a one-night stand with Ben Stone (Seth Rogen), whose occupation is working on creating a semi-porn site with some friends. A few weeks later, Alison finds something is not quite right and is forced to meet Ben again to tell him that she is pregnant. Ben, in turn, decides to be a participative father. And there begins the fun!

The film doesn’t shy away from being in-your-face. Condoms, sex scenes, almost full-scale nudity, hormonal tantrums – you name it and it’s there. If Alison and Ben had anything in common, the story would have ended right away. But of course they don’t and that, consequently, makes for a very entertaining film (Alison: "I love your curly hair! It's great... do you use product or anything?" Ben: "No... I use, uh, jew it's called.") And then one of my favorite dialogues in the film - Ben: "Do you want to do it doggie style?" Alison: "You're not going to fuck me like a dog." Ben: "It's doggie style. It's just the style. We don't have to go outside or anything")!!!. It’s a pretty simple story, but director Judd Apatow, whose previous films have included 2005’s 40-Year-Old Virgin and as producer, the other teen hit of this year, Superbad, is intent on making his mark as director of note as far as the American comedy genre is concerned. With Knocked Up, he seems to be in the right direction.

Grey’s Anatomy’s Katherine Heigl seems quite comfortable making the transition from TV to film, but young Seth Rogen is the one to watch out for as he makes his mark in his first full-fledged lead role as Ben, which he fits like a T, chubby face, curly hair and all (he was most recently seen in Superbad, which, incidentally, he also helped write). Paul Rudd as Alison’s brother-in-law Pete (Rudd is probably most remembered as Phoebe’s husband in Friends), and Leslie Rudd as her sister Debbie fit their roles perfectly. All in all, a jolly good film for a jolly good laugh.