KNOCKED UP

Overall Impression — Crass, rude, and I loved it.

THE FOUR QUESTIONS

Who’s the main character? — Seth Rogen’s slacker-stoner, Ben.

What’s he trying to accomplish? —  Ben’s trying to figure out how to be a good boyfriend and potential father.

Who’s trying to stop him? —  To an extent, his slacker buddies as well as the girl he…uh…knocked up, Alison (Katherine Heigl) as well as her sister and brother-in-law.

What happens if he fails? —  He loses the one girl he’s ever met who could possibly love him.

THE FOUR ARCHETYPES

Orphan — Ben is a happy, broke, stoned slacker who is forced to leave his “community” when he sleeps up and gets Alison pregnant.

Wanderer — Ben tries to figure out how not to be so rude and objectionable, how to fit in with Alison’s family (particularly her sister) and how to be a good match for Alison whom  he love and who is beginning to love him.  The problem is that he’s not really committed to doing the right thing, but to making it look like he’s doing the right thing.

Warrior —  After Alison rejects a marriage proposal, Ben starts fighting harder to be the right person for her.  Unfortunately this only involves trying to fit her into his slacker life.  He also starts getting more antagonist as his efforts fail. 

Martyr — Finally, Ben realizes that real changes have to be made.  He moves out of the apartment he shares with his friends, gives up the empty dream of launching his snarky website, gets a job, and by doing so, finally becomes the person Alison and their baby needs.

AND, IN THE END… 

Such a great, simple story.  Of course, what puts this over the top is the outrageous humour which, while crude in many places, is so grounded in reality and uniquely funny that it’s hard not to be impressed. 

I’m often telling writers that they have to “bring something to the party.”  What I mean is that if they write a scene that ANYONE could have written, then who needs them?  There are so many moments in KNOCKED UP where Judd Apatow and/or his crazy-talented cast bring something to the party that I can’t help but smile with admiration while also marveling at the minds that came up with the word “smish-smortion.”