Judd Apatow, most famously known for his epic attempt to glorify the virginity trail, tries to strike society again with his rousing stab at softening the darker side of one-night stands and unplanned pregnancy. While Knocked Up delivers off beat laughs, it comes off more like a little brother, tagging onto the success of recent movies. Seth Rogen (Anchorman, 40 Year Old Virgin) makes an honest attempt at stepping out of the shadows, but in the end proves why he should remain a secondary character. A bright spot in the acting, however, is a relatively new Jay Baruchel (Almost Famous), who adds a fresh face to the Apatow’s normal crew.
The Set Up
As for the story, it follows the events of a drunken romp in Katherine Heigls sister’s house. The pair, Rogen and Heigl, meets after an intoxicating night at the local club. Of course, like all normal people, they have sex then move their separate ways (sarcasm emphasizing the normal, of course). Nine months later, and the cautionary tale turns into a heartwarming, feel good movie where everything is ok. But, do keep in mind that this comes at the expense of the jokes and cheap laughs.
While the tale seems to defy every moral fiber left tangling in society, it does leave a sense of satisfaction in the world. Essentially, if you believe the movie to be immoral, you can rest knowing that the characters get what they deserve in the end. But if you are view the story as just an every day occurrence, you will be satisfied in knowing that everyone lives happily ever after. More appropriately, nobody learns a lesson. The overwhelming theme seems to be that you can do whatever you want and everything will work out ok.
Apatow Tries Too Hard
Apatow seems to be trying to push the envelope and put himself as the head of the post-modern sexist movement (which isn’t just for women anymore). While even with his earlier movies, we see Apatow trying to blur the lines between what is right and what is wrong. Celtic Pride shows us that kidnapping is ok for the greater good; Heavy Weights teaches that childhood obesity can be cute, and Fun with Dick and Jane preaches that stealing to make ends meet should be acceptable. Overall, the movie delivers laughs, but lacks a supporting cast to make it worth watching. The jokes and characters simply fall in line with the growing trend of gritty dialogue and those ‘unexpected’ jokes and actions that everyone in the theater can see a mile away. Prepare to have occasional laughs, but to forget about them by the time you leave the theater.
