There is no doubt that the positive outweight the negative in "Knocked Up", a 2007 movie directed by Judd Apatow. Though for a comedy, "Knocked Up" runs for well over two hours long it might run too long for a romantic comedy where most of them clock in at around 90 minutes long or a bit longer. Though much of the subject matter takes a plethora of risks, the content manages to have plenty of provocative attributes that makes this movie intriguing. The facinating thing thing about Apatow's direction is that he plays the beat to a different drum and never once does look back or care what others have to say.
In a similar vein to his previous work "The 40-Year Old Virgin", there are many risque moments featured here that is very daring, but original. While at the same time he succeeds in not trying to make his characters complex and unrelatable. While his characters have certain levels of cliche, it's still easy to forgive by making his characters real and their situations believable.
It's pretty much a movie strictly for the laughs top priority. Sure you can try and disect the subliminal hidden message in the narrative as to how this comedy works and its effectiveness in its storytelling. Apatow has succeeded in creating a story that focuses on comedy but the characters have situations that fare equally effective as a drama. Life has just as equal comedy parts as it has as a drama. Life without comedy isn't much of a life itself if everything is full of drama.
Katherine Heigl stars as Alison Scott, a very successful E channel talk show host who after she hearing the news that she's getting a promotion, she meets a pothead loser named Ben Stone (Seth Rogen). Though they couldn't be more opposites attract to each other, they still get it on just fine to the point where they make out eventually getting her pregnant.
The movie truly takes off once we get to what happens in the very next day. It's not an over-the-top moment being that Alison throws a screaming fit and throws the stoner slob out or having Ben come off as an easy laid-back problem solver. He knows what's coming to him and handles it very maturely. He's scared because now he has to finally break out of his man-child demeanour and become a responsible adult. Though she wants to limit her time with him, she doesn't have the heart to be in any way disrespectful. He does take a liking to her even though he anticipates she wants to get away from him What makes this situation funny is that it is undeniably awkward. It's not that we are laughing at the foolishness we're laughing because it could happen to anybody making every scene around them feel authentic.
Sure the thoughts of having an abortion is thought upon, but it never comes off as empowering or championed. Her mother over lunch feels that yes she should get an abortion and move on with her life. But Alison ends up deciding she is going to keep the baby and see how thing will work out with Ben who is willing to take responsibility. We get equal sides of both Alison's friends and family just as much as Ben's family and friends. Sure their opinions might be different, but at least everyone's voice is spoken.
There is also some equally poignant moments that centre around the fractured marriage between Alison's sister, Debbie (Leslie Mann) and her brother-in-law Pete (Paul Rudd). Though these characters might be supporting fillers to keep the story going, their scenes are explored to our fullest attention too. However, the scenes where Ben is living together with his stoner pals can become monotonous and repetitive.
There's a lot to explore in this movie you will have to see to believe and though the red herrings might be obvious, there's a lot to enjoy here as it'd comedy, but more intelligent than one might expect.
In a similar vein to his previous work "The 40-Year Old Virgin", there are many risque moments featured here that is very daring, but original. While at the same time he succeeds in not trying to make his characters complex and unrelatable. While his characters have certain levels of cliche, it's still easy to forgive by making his characters real and their situations believable.
It's pretty much a movie strictly for the laughs top priority. Sure you can try and disect the subliminal hidden message in the narrative as to how this comedy works and its effectiveness in its storytelling. Apatow has succeeded in creating a story that focuses on comedy but the characters have situations that fare equally effective as a drama. Life has just as equal comedy parts as it has as a drama. Life without comedy isn't much of a life itself if everything is full of drama.
Katherine Heigl stars as Alison Scott, a very successful E channel talk show host who after she hearing the news that she's getting a promotion, she meets a pothead loser named Ben Stone (Seth Rogen). Though they couldn't be more opposites attract to each other, they still get it on just fine to the point where they make out eventually getting her pregnant.
The movie truly takes off once we get to what happens in the very next day. It's not an over-the-top moment being that Alison throws a screaming fit and throws the stoner slob out or having Ben come off as an easy laid-back problem solver. He knows what's coming to him and handles it very maturely. He's scared because now he has to finally break out of his man-child demeanour and become a responsible adult. Though she wants to limit her time with him, she doesn't have the heart to be in any way disrespectful. He does take a liking to her even though he anticipates she wants to get away from him What makes this situation funny is that it is undeniably awkward. It's not that we are laughing at the foolishness we're laughing because it could happen to anybody making every scene around them feel authentic.
Sure the thoughts of having an abortion is thought upon, but it never comes off as empowering or championed. Her mother over lunch feels that yes she should get an abortion and move on with her life. But Alison ends up deciding she is going to keep the baby and see how thing will work out with Ben who is willing to take responsibility. We get equal sides of both Alison's friends and family just as much as Ben's family and friends. Sure their opinions might be different, but at least everyone's voice is spoken.
There is also some equally poignant moments that centre around the fractured marriage between Alison's sister, Debbie (Leslie Mann) and her brother-in-law Pete (Paul Rudd). Though these characters might be supporting fillers to keep the story going, their scenes are explored to our fullest attention too. However, the scenes where Ben is living together with his stoner pals can become monotonous and repetitive.
There's a lot to explore in this movie you will have to see to believe and though the red herrings might be obvious, there's a lot to enjoy here as it'd comedy, but more intelligent than one might expect.