message in the movies By Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

              
Knocked Up     Rated R
Directed by Judd Apatow.  Starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl

Photos © Universal Pictures

Since the success of 1999’s American Pie, every summer seems to begin with one or two raunchy sex comedies.  The only thing that has changed since then is the age of the characters.  We now have films that depict adults in their 20s and 30s caught in arrested development, usually working at  slacker jobs, and spending their spare time playing video games and smoking weed.  Knocked Up creates a scenario in which bong-loving Ben (Rogen) hooks up at a bar with Alison (Heigl), a young professional woman out to celebrate a recent promotion.  They fall into bed and have semi-conscious sex, only to separate immediately thereafter as Alison feels disgusted and Ben amazed at his good fortune.  Weeks later, Alison calls Ben to tell him she’s pregnant.  Much to his surprise, Ben finds himself in the position of trying to do the right thing, but even the prospect of marriage is scary when he sees the mixture of suburban success and bitter fighting that’s a part of Alison’s sister and brother-in-law’s daily life.    Knocked Up shows us two people trying to work together to create a meaningful future, and not sure about whether or not that will involve an interpersonal relationship.  There are many laughs, with a first-rate cast playing at the top of their game. So far, so good. Nevertheless, I had more than a few problems with this movie.  The constant profanity and crude banter (which was also a part of Apatow’s 2005 hit, The 40 Year Old Virgin), while expected in R-rated comedies, is beginning to grate on my nerves.  The many pop culture references to current music and television shows will make this film one for the time capsule.  And, speaking of television, this film’s rhythm is just as sloppy and herky-jerky as most hour-long sitcoms, and there are many scenes in this 129 minute film that use too much screen time with minimal payoff.  Knocked Up is probably undone by its ambition, which is a compliment to a summer sex comedy.  It’s smart and funny, crude and wise, reckless and thoughtful.  But it’s no classic.  I await the day when a contemporary filmmaker tells a story about a boy and a girl who meet, fall in love, and don’t have sex.  Now, that would be something.

Pitchfork Rating: Three halos. (Some sobering and thoughtful ruminations on moral responsibility and marriage are a part of this anything-for-a-laugh comedy.)  Three pitchforks.  (Constant profanity, occasional crudity and sex-related humor; recreational drug and alcohol excess.)

 

 

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