Knocked Up review

DVD of the week – With a simple plot, witty script and a barrel-load of laugh out loud moments, the DVD 'bromance' Knocked Up scores highly on SoGlos.com's laugh-o-metre.

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl drink too much tequila and have a one-night stand. Girl gets pregnant. As a premise for a film plot, this is about as simple as it gets. But why complicate things any further when you have a truly witty script, a cast who bounce off each other so well they could win the Olympic gold in trampolining and an honest look at the fear of growing up and facing responsibilities?

The two protagonists of Knocked Up could not be more different. The gorgeous and ambitious Alison (Katherine Heigl, Grey’s Anatomy) has got the world at her feet and a blossoming TV career, before she meets Ben (Seth Rogen, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) in a nightclub.

Ben is an ‘illegal Canadian’ living in the US, who spends his days smoking pot, watching porn (in the name of research for his yet-to-be-launched website ‘fleshofthestars.com’) and partaking in Jackass style stunts with his equally uninspired mates (incidentally played by Rogen’s five real-life best buddies).

In reality, Alison would fall into the ‘in your dreams pal’ category for most men – let alone this loser. But this is the world of film and if Woody Allen can continually bed gorgeous beauties then, hell, why can’t this tubby, foul-mouthed slacker too?

So, if you can suspend your disbelief that not only has Alison given this joker a second glance, but she has also invited him to dance the mattress mambo with her, not to mention deeming it a good idea to father his baby after accidentally getting preggers, what you have is a fantastic movie that’ll tickle your funny bone while touching your heart.

The sentimental parts are few and far between, punctuated with crass, vulgar – but hilarious – observations and situations. Not your typical rom-com, Knocked Up is almost anti-romance and doesn’t hold back on the marriage bashing – Debbie (Leslie Mann) and Pete (Paul Rudd) play Alison’s sister and brother-in-law whose happiness is confined to the wedding photo album these days, and their heated interactions will amuse singletons but leave knowing married couples cringing.

If you liked The 40-Year-Old Virgin, you’ll love this movie, which was written and directed by Judd Apatow and features a lot of the same faces - including Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen. While the focus of the film is on the relationship between Alison and Ben, the chemistry between pals Ben and Pete is perhaps even more engaging. Their comedic timing and male-bonding banter hits another level here and goes way beyond the ‘Do you know how I know you’re gay?’ quips from The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Knocked Up is light years away from being described as your run-of-the-mill chick flick, and is more of a ‘bromance’, if anything. This film is not for the easily offended – there’s terrorist jokes, bad language, nudity and a ridiculously graphic labour scene. But if it’s a few belly laughs you’re after, Knocked Up will hit the spot.

Film: Knocked Up
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd
Classification: 15
DVD release date: 26 December 2007
Available from: Amazon.co.uk for £11.98.

Katherine Bebo
26 December 2007