It’s Not Mono, I’m Pregnant.

Judd Apatow has to be one of my favorite people in Hollywood. About seven years ago he gave us the incredible TV show "Freaks and Geeks" which failed to take off but deserves devoted viewing time by anyone who knows what it's like to go through the awkwardness of high school. Apatow has since given us "Undeclared" (another cancelled TV gem taking place at college) and "40 Year Old Virgin," which propelled Steve Carrell and his career to new heights. All of these projects have the common theme of championing and humanizing the underdogs or outcasts in a way that most big-budget Hollywood projects shy away from. His latest installment in his string of hits is "Knocked Up" which hits theaters nationwide today.

I don't know much about Judd Apatow as a person but I'm amazed at how well he can write emotional and charming material for the "losers" of society. Most movies with subjects such as his provide more mokery than honesty but Apatow avoids any pitfalls of the genre and in turn redefines it in a way. The premise of his latest movie looks at what happens when a one night stand yields the surprising result of a pregnancy. Do the two people involved try to make it work together when hit with the unpredictability of life even when all signs point to failure? For the audience's sake, yes they do and the resulting 2 hours makes much more of an impact than I ever expected.

The problem with this movie is that it is almost too mature of a comedy for what you intially expect going in. It's been marketed as a goofball pot head meets corporate comedy when really it is a romantic comedy that wrestles with the struggles of relationships and expectations of life more than most teenage boys are going to want. Perhaps it doesn't fit in with the typical summer comedies but because of that it is a welcome departure from the norm.

In what has become standard for any Apatow production, the ensemble cast is perfectly fit to their roles and bring endearing qualities to even the harshest of situations. Even though the leading man, played by the charmingly normal hero Seth Rogan, in most definable ways has a deadbeat life, Rogan is able to make us root for him in every possible scene. When the plot takes the twists and turns that real relationships encounter I found myself as hurt by the thrown words as though the characters had been close friends of mine.

About thirty minutes into the movie I thought perhaps it was going to stretch on too long only to find that every scene that added to the length considerably aided the emotional impact of the final hour. All of the college humor is there but it's cornered within a story about pushing ourselves to accept and embrace the unexpectedness of life. Planning things sometimes seems like the only logical way but throwing logic out of the window can bring more happiness than we predict.

Between the older married couple (including the increasingly hot "guy from Clueless" Paul Rudd complete with hilarious mushroom trip) and the couple at the upstart (Rogan and Katherine Heigel who I had never seen in anything but enjoyed) Apatow has created a poignant romantic comedy for adults that I highly recommend. The word poignant wasn't something I ever imagined typing in a review for this movie but it pleases me to do so. Even more pleasing is the chance to see all of the gang from "Freaks" and "Undeclared" reunited on screen again. Now I'm even more excited to see Rogan and Apatow's "Superbad" coming in August.

(A scene from "Knocked Up" with some adult situations...it is rated R after all.)

(The "Superbad" trailer.)

Comments

[Reel Fanatic]

Great review .. I have to admit, I had forgotten where I had first seen Paul Rudd, but now that you mention it I remember all too well .. I just love Clueless more than any sane person should, and I'm sure I'll have just as much love for "Knocked Up" when I finally get to see it tomorrow

[jolene]

paul rudd was also the really funny "Paris" in baz luhrmann's romeo and juliet

thanks matt, for that "classy" clip from Knocked Up. ^^

[Anonymous]

I tried to watch the film last night with one of my friends and the theatre was packed. We had to wait unitl the next showing that also filled up. I thought that the film was brilliant and un-comfortably funny. The subject matter was
"too" on. I loved and glad that you did to.

[M]

Just curious, where are you at? So glad to see that it is doing well and getting the audience that is deserves. I knew going into my first showing (a friday matinee in montana) that it would be empty but when I went back the following day it was STILL empty. Montanans just aren't feeling this movie too much I guess!