GETTING KNOCKED UP ON A SATURDAY NIGHT
It is not often that a film lives up to serious hype, buzz and expectations.
If you fit one or more of the categories below, you will enjoy Knocked Up:
A. You have a sense of humor
B. You catch very topical pop culture references
C. You have slacker and/or stoner friends
D. You are a guy
E. You’ve had a baby
F. You know someone who has had a baby
I don’t want to give anything
away, but I haven’t laughed out loud that much at a movie in a very
long time. Yes, there is a bit of potty humor. But it is a far better
film than The 40 Year Old Virgin and a hell of a lot funnier
than most ‘guy movies.’ Although truly, this should not be classified
as a guy flick. Frankly, I think it will be a huge hit because the
concept will appeal to women more than men. At the theater tonight, all of
the women in the audience reacted to the birth scene with great joy and
applause for the familiar. Even those of us who do not have children
appreciated how well Apatow handled matters of pregnancy, birth, and
parenting throughout the film. 
(WHAT A) CAST
Katherine Heigl, who was so impressive that the phrase ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ never popped into my head.
Seth Rogen, whose performance will give false hope to nerdy guys everywhere that they too can land such a lady. He’s kind of like Will Ferrell Lite, but much more subtle. Thankfully.
Paul Rudd, who is hysterical in almost everything he’s appeared in, finally plays a grown up with great success in this one.
Half the cast of (cancelled cult shows) Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared, several episodes of which were written by Knocked Up director Judd Apatow.
Half the cast of The Office in cameo appearances: Steve Carrell, playing himself. Darryl from the warehouse (Craig Robinson). And the temp (BJ Novak).
Leslie Mann, wife of director Apatow and real mother of the daughters in the film.
[POP CULTURE ASIDE: They met on the set of The Cable Guy, which he produced and she was in.]
Iris and Maude Apatow, the cutest onscreen kids I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t care about nepotism when it actually benefits a motion picture.
Harold Ramis, known forever as Egon Spengler from Ghostbusters but perfectly cast here as the equally hapless father to clueless son Rogen.
Joanna Kerns, with a saucy haircut that Maggie Seaver from Growing Pains would never attempt.
Kristen Wiig from Saturday Night Live, who stole the few scenes she was in.
Loudon Wainwright III: musician, actor and Apatow regular.
Alan Tudyk, who I’ll always think of as Steve the Pirate from Dodgeball and the patient with the accent in that crap Sandra Bullock rehab movie, 28 Days.
Ryan Seacrest, in a refreshingly funny cameo.
Seriously, give up 2 of your weekly lattes for the price of admission to this one. I would be VERY surprised to find out that you didn’t enjoy it…