Review: Knocked Up
Blu-ray: Knocked Up (2007)
Knocked Up is a comedy from Judd Apatow about the trials and tribulations of unplanned pregnancy. After a one-night stand, Full-time stoner Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) and go-getting career woman Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) end up with more than just an awkward shag. Scott becomes pregnant and decides to keep it, forcing the odd couple to drastically shift their lives around this new budding life.
I think out of all Judd Apatow produced/directed films (except for Superbad), this one stands as my favourite. Apatow’s and Rogan’s films have garnered, very fairly so, a wholly immature image. An immaturity constantly crossing the line into obnoxious. Yet, while I think the immaturity is still present and in full view in Knocked Up, it proves to be a necessary piece to the film as a whole.
Knocked Up is a film about immaturity. It’s about being forced to grow up after procrastinating the prospect for as long as you possibly can. As much as I hate to admit, it actually proves very relatable. Ben is a caricature of the 20 something man-child trying to hold as small a place in the world as he can, getting by on the friendship of his stoner friends. He is still a child himself, suddenly faced with his own impending maturity.
The cast of characters is quite good, each side character having recognisable and believable quirks. It’s still the usual motley crew of boisterous guys and uptight women but there is something about the chemistry between the cast that I think was caught really well. This is even more to the films credit when considering how many characters there are.
If you don’t enjoy the Apatow take on comedy however, this isn’t going to convert you. It’s less of ‘event’ humour of set-ups and punchlines and more of a series of dry one-liners chained into the dialogue, so if that’s less of your thing maybe give this a miss.
Knocked Up holds a special place in my heart. It has some of the most heart, wit and chemistry of any of the Apatow/Rogan films and definitely one I can recommend if you dig this kind of comedy.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Theatrical and Extended Versions of the film
- Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Judd Apatow, Executive Producer/Star Seth Rogen and Cast Member Bill Hader
- Deleted and Extended Scenes and Alternate Cuts
- Line-O-Rama
- Beard-O-Rama
- Gag Reel
- Kids on the Loose
- Kuni Files
- Kuni Gone Wild
- Finding Ben Stone
- Directing the Director
- Topless Scenes
- Stripper Confidential
- First Sex on Camera
- Video Diaries
- Raw Footage
- Katherine Heigl Audition and much much more..
Review by Joel from discs kindly supplied by Fabulous Films.
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