Knocked Up

Knocked Up

9.5 out of 10

Running time: 2:08

MPAA rating: R (for sexual content, drug use and language.)

Peruvian rating: Mayores de 14

Cast: Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Martin Starr
Director: Judd Apatow
Script: Judd Apatow
Photography: Eric Alan Edwards
Score: Joe Henry, Loudon Wainwright III
Distributor: Universal Pictures

Ever seen The 40-year old Virgin? Hilarious movie, right? Well, writer/director Judd Apatow decided to follow the same winner formula for his new movie, Knocked Up, and guess what... he's succeeded. The sometimes gross-out, sometimes cute humour is almost always hilariously funny, and the relationship between the two main characters is touching and realistic. Some people might that the mixture of these two different concepts might be awkward, but Apatow manages to make a really good movie out of them. After many unfunny comedies being released this year, and last year, and the year before, it's always a pleasure to watch an Apatow movie.

Knocked Up start by introducing its two main characters: Alison Scott, (Katherine Heigl) a pretty 20-something girl living with her sister and husband (Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd) and working for E! Entertainment, earns a promotion as an on-camera interviewer. On the other hand, party animal Ben Stone, (Seth Rogen) a pot-smoking 20-something slacker, does virtually nothing for life, his only "dream" being creating a Mr. Skin-type of website. One night, though, when Allison decides to celebrate her promotion by doing to a disco with her sister and meets Ben. Both of them get drunk, go to her house and decide to make things hotter... there's a misunderstanding about whether he should use protection, though, and things don't turn out as they had planned.

Now, being this a comedy, one of its most important aspects is in the acting department, and it excells. Katherine Heigl, as Allison Scott, is sometimes funny, sometimes cute and sometimes desperate. She's energetic and likeable, and the chemestry with her co-star is excellent. Seth Rogen, playing the typical slacker, is hilarious, and his deliver of funny lines is amusing. His portrayal of a soon-to-be-father is great, and is a really likeable protagonist, much like his co-star. The supporting cast includes Leslie Mann as Allison's sister, and Paul Rudd as her sister's husband. Both of them show range and acting ability, and shine in their respective scenes.

But what about the humour? Like I said, Knocked Up is one of the funniest movies I've seen this year. (Not that there's much competition.) Apatow knows his humour, knows what people laugh at, and, most importantly, the actors' delivery and timing is almost-perfect. Unlike other comedies, the jokes also work because we laugh with the characters and not at the characters, which are developed pretty profoundly; we actually root for them. Additionally, some critics have found the film a little over-long; yes, it last 2 hours - which is more than what comedies normally run - but I found the running time perfect and the movie never bored me.

Is Knocked Up perfect? Almost. And although it certainly won't receive any Academy Award nominations or any other type of award, it's definitely one of the best movies I've seen this year. The humour is edgy and witty - I was getting tired of all those lame, PG-13 rated "comedies" -, the characters are likeable, and the direction is solid. It's as good as Apatow's previous effort, The 40-year old Virgin, and one of the best comedies I've ever seen. Need I say more?