The Films of Judd Apatow

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

Knocked Up (May 29/07)

Unlike Judd Apatow's first feature, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up suffers from an aimless, overlong sort of vibe that often threatens to negate its many positive attributes. The film generally plays like a rough cut; Apatow has included a ridiculous number of subplots and digressions, and there's little doubt that the two-plus hour running time often feels longer than it actually is. And yet - due primarily to the charisma of stars Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl, as well as the inclusion of several genuinely hilarious bits of comedy - the movie is certainly never boring, although one ultimately can't help but wish that Apatow had excised virtually everything not relating to the central storyline (which revolves around Rogen's Ben getting Heigl's Alison pregnant during a one-night stand, and their subsequent efforts to deal with the situation). There is, for example, far too much of an emphasis placed on the crumbling marriage of Alison's sister (Leslie Mann's Debbie), which - despite the best efforts of Paul Rudd, who delivers an expectedly compelling performance as Debbie's sardonic husband - generally serves no purpose other than to pad out an already-long running time (a less tactful critic might surmise that this aspect of the film exists solely because Mann is married to the director). That being said, Rogen has never been funnier and Heigl seamlessly blends into Apatow's established troupe of actors (which includes Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, and a scene-stealing Jason Segel) - with the end result a film that, while admittedly a cut above most contemporary comedies, can't help but come off as a mild disappointment when compared with The 40-Year-Old Virgin.