CityLife

Knocked Up (15)

129 mins. Comedy/Romance. Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Martin Starr, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, Alan Tudyk, Kristen Wiig. Director: Judd Apatow. Released: August 24 (UK & Ireland)

KNOCKED Up is a smartly written and executed tale about the mistakes that sometimes happen in the heat of lust.

The sort of mistakes that can radically alter lives or, as in the case of Judd Apatow's film, mistakes which unexpectedly bring new life into the world.

In his debut feature, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, writer-director Apatow mined a rich vein of comic gold from miscommunication between the sexes.

Here, he focuses on late twenty and early thirty-somethings, who struggle to strike a balance between business and pleasure, juggling work commitments with equally demanding personal relationships.

The central protagonists find themselves on opposite sides of the tug of war between serious commitment and unabashed freedom.

As so often happens, opposites eventually attract, but not before Apatow has hauled his couple over the coals, making them realise that wedding bells needn't be the death knell for a happy partnership.

Alison Scott (Heigl) is a floor manager at a major entertainment news television network.

Out of the blue, Alison's boss Jack (Tudyk) calls her into his office and confides that the station has plans for her in front of the camera.

The only stipulation is that Alison loses a little weight.

Or as Jack's assistant Jill (Wiig) puts it: "Go home, weigh yourself on a scale, write that down. Then subtract 20 from that number, and then weigh that much."

Alison celebrates with a night on the town with married older sister Debbie (Mann), who has her husband Pete (Rudd) under her manicured thumb.

The two women dance the night away, and after Debbie leaves, Alison hooks up with slacker Ben (Rogen) for an alcohol-fuelled one-night stand.

Pregnant

Several weeks later, Alison telephones Ben with startling news: she is pregnant.

To the amazement of his wastrel roommates - Jonah (Hill), Jason (Segel), Jay (Baruchel) and Martin (Starr) - Ben vows to do the right thing and support Alison.

Knocked Up is one of the year's best comedies, melding superlative writing and performances with assured direction and some genuinely touching moments amidst the filthy-minded humour.

Apatow demonstrates the same unstinting affection for his characters as he did in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, using uproarious comedy to reveal the unspoken desires which make Ben and Alison a potentially perfect if unlikely match.

Heigl reflects the vulnerability and confusion of her career girl, while Rogen slowly reveals the caring side to his lackadaisical dreamer, who enjoys a quick puff of his bong.

"It's weird that chairs exist when you don't sit on them," observes Ben after one greedy inhalation.

Screen chemistry percolates and we root for a happy ending, even when it seems Ben and Alison are hell bent on destroying their relationship.

The 129-minute running time is excessive - the film could, as bitchy assistant Jill would no doubt concur, comfortably trim off some of the fat.

What do you think? Have your say.