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June 14, 2007

Movie Review

Knockout

Summer comedy is hilarious and dear

Story by: Emily Aberg

The Shorthorn news editor

Knocked Up is a movie made by a team of best friends who share a sense of humor that’s as rude as it is warm, infectious as it is inviting.

This R-rated family movie is about young adults — as in early 20s, not as in the library’s section for teen literature — coping with an unplanned pregnancy.

The movie is the latest labor of love by director Judd Apatow, the improvisational mastermind who directed and produced the short-lived cult hit TV series “Freaks and Geeks” (2001). As with The 40 Year Old Virgin, Apatow populated Knocked Up with actors from the series, most notably the lead, played by the burly Seth Rogen.

Rogen plays Ben, a 23-year-old stoner whose impossible one-night stand with a beautiful TV production assistant, Alison (Katherine Heigl) leads to her pregnancy. Ben is so funny, sincere and self-sufficient that you resist calling him a stoner.

Ben’s character is cleverly explored throughout the movie, especially via his friendship with Pete (Paul Rudd), the husband of Alison’s sister. Ben’s identification with him stems from the perpetually unstable level of commitment Pete feels for his wife (Leslie Mann) and kids.

In a scene with his father in which he asks for support, Ben half jokes, half wonders how even his own parents could love him.

“I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you? That makes me feel sad for you,” he says.

Very little is revealed about Alison or her decisions throughout the movie, and her transitions seem overlooked compared to Ben’s. The audience may question throughout the movie why the two are even trying to be in a relationship.

“Oh, right,” they’ll think. “The baby.”

But that may be because Alison assumes all the hard decisions, and her naturally quiet character is a source of strength. And any girl who has been upstaged by a funnier, more charismatic boyfriend will identify with Alison and her sister, Debbie.

At it’s worst, Knocked Up is Apatow’s love letter to Rogen and an excuse to hear some truly hilarious banter.

Apatow’s eye for chemistry between actors is his greatest asset as a director. Knocked Up is ultimately about those moments when a couple is having a baby that should be precious and magical but in reality often go wrong or become a disaster.

Despite any faults, there’s no denying that Knocked Up is hilarious, destined to be a success and destined to be copied by lesser filmmakers. It can’t be done, though. The dialogue is so natural, the premise so simple and yet so sensitively handled, that it can’t help but be one in a million.