Knocked Up

Judd Apatow proves why he is one of the revered filmmaker demi-gods despite the overly long runtime (for the genre). This is because of his incredible sense of creating parallels between the viewers’ own lives, wherein finding "one’s own thing" is not all that much of a problem. Despite the flurry of vulgarities and low humor, it works. This is especially thanks to Rogen's sympathetically civil charisma of a sweaty redneck and Heigl's ability to make even the most emotional moments believable. The ending is beautiful. (28/08/2009)

Ambitious, but at the same time objectionable in its clumsiness. It can be overlooked that a beautiful girl starts with an unknown unsympathetic weirdo, but not the development of their relationship. Confessions come in a very forceful way and the comical situations do not at all correspond to the current mood. In addition, the only character that one can identify with is the been-upon Alison. The main hero is a boorish ignorant, who can ruin everything and still has a sense of victory. The script doesn't make it any easier for him at all, because he is given a gang of unfunny druggies as friends, who only leer and desperately make remarks. Apatow I take mercy on mostly because I endured this sweaty endeavor for more than two hours, occasional chuckles (De Niro's shoes) and the beautiful Katherine. (18/10/2007)

A lot of directorial ideas and screenwriting gimmicks (interviews with celebrities, parodies of actors) and an excellent main duo (in terms of acting) in a very unconventional film with loads of realistically sounding vulgarities. These are the things that will surprise, if not charm you. But there are also things that are not so good. First and foremost, the immensely long runtime is bothersome considering the genre, and when the director wants to play at a realistic comedy, he should realise that a classy lady working for television, who makes decent money, would not even look at a disgusting sleazy loser like Seth Rogen in a bar. The way their relationship develops is ridiculous, and although the personal opinion and attitude of each viewer a big role in it, it didn't strike me as a particularly realistic story that could happen to anyone. Not to mention the hasty transformation from a slacker to a role model (Ben decides to take his first job and in the next shot he's already buying his own apartment and furniture...). It's a different and pleasantly uninhibited comedy, but the plot twists could use some work. (03/08/2008)

A comedy should entertain and I have no choice but to say that I didn't laugh once during the whole two hours - in fact, I didn't even get the feeling that I should be laughing. Whenever a situation that seemed like humor was approaching, it was usually ruined by some vulgarity, stupidity, or the scriptwriter's failure. This film clearly targets a younger audience in their teenage years, which is the reason for the naivety, insincerity of the storytelling, and cheaper humor. It remains true that the film can convey some timeless differences between the female and male perspectives on the world and relationships, but a film like Barefoot in the Park can sell romance and immaturity of relationships twice as effectively with infinitely greater elegance and style, and any episode of The Simpsons can reveal the struggles of parenthood and marriage in a lot funnier and more cultivated way. The main female characters, led by Katherine Heigl, are a good aspect of the film, as well as the awareness that American studios produce infinitely dumber and more poorly crafted films in the same genre. Overall impression: 40%. (12/10/2010)

The empathetic teddy bear from Zack and Miri Make a Porno and the pretty girl from Grey's Anatomy together in an enjoyable, coarse-grained comedy about conception and the website Mr. Skin. There's nothing like finding out before sex that you're more beautiful than your counterpart. (23/07/2010)