Knocked Up
The picture's probably copyrighted or somethingEd recently took the liberty of posting about Knocked Out. So, I'm going to do the same but call it Knocked Up.
Prepare: this is not a favorable critique because the movie was not to my liking.
The heart of the movie is homegirl, upwardly mobile and part of a popular TV program, has a one-night stand with homeboy, who lives with his college-age friends acting like stoner 13-year olds and working on a garbage website together.
We've already started with two pretty typical roles: smart, young, educated woman; lazy, overweight, naive guy. We know good things generally happen to the former and vice versa. From here, we know the movie is predicated on some twist of fate: unplanned sex and pregnancy, luck for the unlucky, unfortunate for the in-control.
What's interesting is that this movie spins the woman who was in control out of control. You may remember my rant against What About Bob. In that two-hour episode of chaos, the protaganist was Richard Dreyfuss, whose in-control life situation was turned upside down by a patient's charm and endearing love. At least there was charm.
And, at least What About Bob had emotion. The truth is that Knocked Up didn't grab me in the same way - it didn't have chemistry, charm or that much humor. Basically, this movie plays on some stereotypes and otherwise trite situations for humor. So, it has been easy to recall but not because it brought out new comedy. And that's about the extent of my critique. Please comment or post anew with other insights.
The only reason I'm posting about this is because my co-worker brought up engagement and promise rings (which homeboy in the movie tried to use to his advantage but failed miserably at). I'd like to thank Rolling Stone for calling me out as being a part of the "anti-crowd pleaser contingent."
Ed, I'll track down the writer with you and make sure movies like this don't get made. Also, Ed,
you do a good job complimenting Patti in your original post, by the way.
Does anybody other than Rolling Stone want to call me out for my distaste of this so-called "uproarious" film? Why?
6 comments:
dude that's crazy. while i agree with you that it wasn't "new comedy" as you say (mainly because it was the same humor from 40 year old virgin, i think you are over stepping if you say this movie only had parts of it that were funny.
i think the humor of this movie were in the sublties (sp?) of the smaller roles - the 8 year old daughter, the obviously jealous female co-worker....f ing paul rudd was hilarious, again, in his role.
i disagree with you but i don't blame you ben....because i know that when you see a movie like this, all you are thinking is "damn, here we go again. another movie glorifying sin". i don't blame you ben. i blame your strict, catholic upbringing.
I tried not to get my expectations up for this film because 40 Year Old Virgin just tossed other comedies aside in originality and inteligence like me tossing Timmy around at sectionals 03.
I thought this was a little more grown-up version of 40YOV. I agree that they did not establish the connection between boy and girl post-coital. For a little while, like after the first date, still seemed like they was forcin' it. I couldnt believe that she really wanted this.
That did not deter me from getting high-larious off the vast array of comedic actors and situations. The best parts for me was them doin' shrooms in Vegas and the 2 minutes when girl meets his friends for the first time (asian girl asks something to the extent of "do you get pissed when the baby steals your food?", skinny kid talks about shaving pubes). What made it so great is that maybe it's been done before, but not with such great dialouge and talent, which seemed to subsist over the entire film.
I am biased though. I could listen to Paul Rudd and Seth ? verbally spar for hours and not get tired of it. Oh and Leslie Mann is a genius. "That high school cu..(sniffle)..cu*$"
ed, you've got it all right... to blame those puritan parents sending me to catholic school, i mean.
1. the cirque du soleil moment on shrooms was funny,
2. so was the 'you're the worst dad ever' ... 'happy birthday to you' shot from the kitchen
3. the bong gas-masks were pretty funny... but i didn't laugh out loud.
i guess i could see you, faust, cracking up at the 'do you ever get mad when it steals your food?' comment...
other than that, though, when was there out loud laughing for you guys?
really ben????
I saw an advanced screening and it was over a month ago so I cant use specifcic examples to support my statements. But I am in complete disagreement.
First, I was high. This will alter any movie going experience but I think it served as a multiplier in this case because they are expecting a portion of the audience to be under this influence and cater to that group.
But beyond that, I think the movie does a really good job of capturing natural dialogue. The jokes dont have a huge set up and there arent any bombs. Its more like a funny person in real life. Its witty banter that comes quick and the situations they find themselves in lend themselves to the humor.
WHen i watch it again we'll discuss intelligently. Your still mymansandem
Tim is right. It's conversational realistic humor where laughs build up exponentially after each line. It's not your typical "fill it up again! It tastes so good when it touches your lips" instantly funny humor. After one line your, "ha." then your "ha, ha" then your "HA!" then your just outright guffawing.
But there were still moments, many of which I dont remember and others ill refrain from so as not ruin it, begining with: the Eric Bana and the jews conversation and; the "I don't want to say it, but it ryhmes with shrah-bortion" comment
1. Your face looks like Robin Williams' knuckles.
2. I thought the argument between Leslie Mann (Ben how do you know her name? was that good use of imdb or are you secretly a connosieur?) and the bouncer was pretty outstanding, though not really original.
Although i wasn't high when I saw it (really!), it was a while ago and I can't remember specific scenes that made me laugh out loud. I was laughing out loud a lot though...
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