Knocked Up Review

        It’s February and it’s that season of love. This is actually the first time I get to talk about director Judd Apatow. For those who aren’t aware of him, he’s responsible for putting Steve Carrell on the map with The 40 Year Old Virgin. As well as establishing the tv series Freaks and Geeks, which started nearly half of the film’s cast’s careers. I believe Knocked Up is his best film, for the reason that it’s a blend of stoner comedy and a rom-com film. 

1. Ben and Allison

        As the film’s title states, these two random people have a one night stand and gets knocked up. We see in the beginning that Ben is a slacker. Well, he works on a website with his friends that detects an actress’ nudity moments in various films. Allison lives with her sister and family. She is employed as a media personality. 

        Right from the get-go, the two meet just by happenstance. Them being at the club represents where they’re coming from. With Ben and his friend dress like slobs with just t shirts and pants and Allison and his sister looking nice. It’s one of those things where the idea is that them hooking up is just not plausible. Even the movie’s marketing plays this up. 

        Throughout the film, they try to understand and grapple with an idea that a baby is coming. Both Ben and Allison portray an honest representation that shows just what happens when two people have a baby and have no idea on how to process it. What’s interesting is that it came out the same time as Juno did. While it came out later than this film, it mostly brings up the same concept of responsibility that is evident but with high school as the background. 

        Lastly, it has to follow those moments where the two separate and we see the obligatory montage of what they're doing without each other. It's basically a trope that is repeated twice. The whole thing is an acceptable part of the genre since we see that it's practically helps the characters grow and really understand that they miss each other. Evidently, we see that when the two go to the club and Las Vegas. I'll talk about the club scene in a moment, since the Las Vegas bit between Pete and Ben is hilarious. Since we see that Pete is practically Ben but with a stable family. Albeit, he hasn't grown up. 

2. Growing Up

        What makes the film great is the overall theme of the movie. It’s this idea of growing up and becoming a parent. Ben slowly tries to be mature when being with Allison, but stoops to stupid humor when something annoys Allison. The same can be said about her. And how she and her sister Debbie try to enter a club but are denied. 

        It’s one of the film’s best scene. With the doorman played by Craig Robinson saying sorry for not letting them in. And just being honest that the two aren’t the club’s demographic, and with Allison being pregnant just being the cherry on top. What makes it better is that they’re aren’t as mature as they think. Debbie is constantly on Ben’s case of not being the right guy for her sister, not knowing that the days of clubbing is over. 

        Throughout the film, Ben practically has an arc where he’s the mascot of theme and with the idea of responsibility. As a slacker, he finds the comedic moments in situations where it pisses off Allison and in the moment where they find where Debbie’s husband is at. Little by little, he wises up and manages to be with Allison in the heat of the moment. 

        This is practically why I like Judd Apatow films in general. Everything feels honest with any film and its subject matter. He has this talent where he can make the protagonist not be a usual heartthrob. But a geek or a slacker into a likeable person. And explore the moment where he or she wants to change with their life. It’s relatable and it’s the kind of the movie where I can watch it at any point in time. 

3. Overall

        With all that, Knocked Up is a great comedy that came out in the 2000s. It’s not too gross and it treats the idea of childbearing into a hilarious one. Check it out.