Iffy for 16+
Raunchy but tender comedy about sex & parenthood.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, this comedy earns its R rating with drug use, strong language (it's constant, particularly "f--k"), nudity, and nonstop explicit conversations about sex. Naturally, most teenagers will want to see it, especially if they saw Virgin. But be advised -- the main character and his roommates spend nearly all of their time high on marijuana, and the physiological aspects of pregnancy -- from conception to crowning -- are front and center. (On the bright side, after watching all of that, it's a good bet that teens will be much less likely to risk having unprotected sex and may even appreciate what their mothers went through to give birth...)
- Families can talk about the consequences of having sex -- including pregnancy and parenthood.
- How do movies and TV shows usually depict unplanned pregnancy? How is this movie different?
- Does the fact that it's a comedy make the issues seem less serious?
- Do you think Alison and Ben made the right decisions? Why or why not?
- Families can also discuss the "return" of the R-rated comedy. Do the raunchy bits make movies like this funnier, or do they go overboard?
The good stuff
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Messages: Yes, there's unprotected sex and rampant drug use, but the consequences of both are made very apparent. Ben and Alison not only decide to have their baby but also to really get to know each other for the child's sake.
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Role models: Ben is far from a role model at the beginning of the film; Alison, whilst more mature, still engages in risky and foolish behavior. They do eventually grow together in order to "do the right thing", but the funniest part is watching them get there. They are hilarious to watch, but best look to them for guidance.
What to watch for
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Violence: Some pushing and shoving.
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Sex: Fairly graphic sex scenes -- not in terms of nudity (although Rogen's bare butt is visible), but in the positions and conversation depicted. Everyone discusses sex, whether it's a married couple casually discussing whether to have it or a group of guys debating whether Ben's gonna get some, etc. There's also a realistic representation of pregnancy that includes a woman's hormonal shifts and sexual needs. At the end, there's an almost documentary-style childbirth scene. There's even movie-within-a-movie nudity (Ben's job is to record whenever an actress gets naked on screen). A couple of fairly brief topless scenes (including one graphic-but-funny lap-dance sequence).
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Language: Lots and lots of cursing -- think Tarantino levels but in a funnier context: F-bombs galore (plus all the other "standards"); the "c" word; various euphemisms for sex and genitalia; colorful insults.
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Consumerism: E! Entertainment Television, Ryan Seacrest, Spider-Man 3.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Ubiquitous marijuana use and pot paraphernalia among Ben and his friends. Ben and Pete do mushrooms and hallucinate. Alison and Ben get incredibly drunk before their one-night stand. Clubgoers are shown drinking.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Hilarious! by jmag420
One of the funniest movies to come out in a few years! It was funnier than 40 year old virgin and very close to being as funny as Wedding Crashers. If you liked either of those movies this is a must see movie!
5
Knocked Up by Movie Freak10
This Was So Fricking Funny!!!!!Literally Every Scene I Was Cracking Up This Movies Is Just As Funny As The 40 Year Old Virgen But The Humor Is For Certain People Like I Saw The Old People Werent Laughing To Much But Me And My Bro Were Cracking UpTake My Advice You Have To See Knocked Up In Theatres!I
3
Are there any good movies anymore? by dbaxfan99
There are a few laughs, but overall this movie is pretty unimpressive. It is disjointed and wandering, and most of the humor is fairly juvenile. If you do not go in expecting much and stoner/slacker/drug humor is really funny to you, you might enjoy this movie.
2
Mindless, moronic comedy... by Regular movie guy
Hot, young, gorgeous, media professional falls for fat, hairy, stupid, bong-toking, unemployed loser. Uh, ok. If you get past that ridiculous scenario, then you get to enjoy endless shots of smoking pot, 'shrooming, more smoking pot, fart jokes, smoking pot, partially naked hairy fat guy, partially naked hairy fat guy smoking pot, and an imploding marriage. Oh, and you get to see said naked hairy fat guy having sex quite a few times as well- all the women in the theater I attended let out a disgusted "eewww" every time. Can't say I blamed them. Anyway, this is not a feel-good movie. It's more of a "our society is really going into the crapper" movie. If anything, you feel kinda gross afterwards. Then again, if you know someone who's a wake-and-bake, unemployed, fat waste of DNA- this is their triumph on film. Definitely NOT for anyone under 18. If you want some fun, gross-out type comedy, rent "Kingpins" or "Dodgeball" instead- at least there's a semi-uplifting message there.
2
knocked up by Groovy_Movies
This movie did not work.
3
Too bad this "comedy" isnt funny. It would have helped. by MuveBuff
Since when does watching people walk through unbelievably uncomfortable situation after uncomfortable situation constitute funny? I felt like I was watching a teen age health education film on pregnancy. For straight people only.
5
Hilarious by akilh2
If you like to laugh, you have to go see this movie. It was way better than I expected. Although it was funny, it had its serious moments. I would definitely recommend this movie.
2
Am I The Reawakened Ice Man? by ricktadams
I understood the premise of the movie. Do nothing guy has the night of his life with a hot chick that was too loaded to judge correctly. She's pregnant and wants the guy to be in her life. I expected a Pygmalion approach. WRONG!!! Instead I am wondering if I live in this world or at least the one the director painted. Is this the new record for the f word? And everybody used it. Even the rather cultured sister. They used in nice restaurants. I'm sorry I am in nice restauratns a lot and this is not the language. The guy was more than low. If she saw sweetness, she is Pollyana. I felt embarassed sitting next to my wife having exposed her to this trash. Yet, this show gets high marks. But no one mentions the level of raunchiness of the movie. Please let me go back to my world of yesterday, if this is truly a depiction of life in the early 21st century. Or maybe ,we can say no to this garbage.This story could still be told. And still be funny!!!
5
Another Hit For Apatow by magicwan83
This movie lived up to every expectation I had, even better than Pirates. Anyways, if you loved 40 Year Old Virgin, Accepted, Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared or hell, even How I Met Your Mother, you will enjoy this movie. All I can say is it made me an even bigger fan of Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen. Go see it, you wont be disappointment
4
VERY FUNNY! by BuckWild
OMG.... I kept wondering to myself, "Can Everyone Hear How Loud I'm Laughing" . Seriously, there some parts that were a little too real but other than that, it was hilarious. I would diff. go see it again if friends wanted to. With alot of crappy humor out right now, this was a good break from that. Something you can really laugh about, KNOCKED UP, hah!!!!!