Knocked Up ***1/2
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Martin Starr
Director: Judd Apatow
Running Length: 2:08
MPAA Classification: R

Alison Scott (Heigl) is an up-and-comer who has just received a promotion at the E! Entertainment network, and will now be doing on-air interviews. Ben Stone (Rogan) is a slacker who watches movies for nude scenes so he can post the info on a Mr. Skin-type website he and his buddies are creating. He also likes to smoke pot and just hang out. Alison’s and Ben’s paths cross on the night of her promotion, and after a few drinks have a one night stand. Two months later, their misunderstanding they had about condom use, comes back to haunt them as Alison discovers she is pregnant. Ben and Alison decide to give it a shot and get to know each other, since either way, their lives are now entwined.

Director Judd Apatow’s follow up to “The 40-Year Old Virgin” shows that he is a gifter writer and director. “Knocked Up” has all the charm of his first film, and is excellent. Heigl and Rogan are a cute couple, and have great chemistry. Rogan is hilarious as usual, and this could very well be a breakout role for him. The rest of the cast is pulled from Apatow’s previous works “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared”. His wife and kids are even in the film, and it is obvious these people all enjoy working together. “Knocked Up” is a rare movie that will satisfy both men and women. I highly recommend this film. It is probably the funniest movie out there since “The 40-Year Old Virgin”, and well worth your time.