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Almost Grown: Judd Apatow's Knocked Up: The Stop Smiling Film Review
The Stop Smiling Film Review
(Universal)
Friday, June 01, 2007
By Nick Pinkerton
Knocked Up
Directed by Judd Apatow
(Universal)
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Rogen is Ben Stone, an adrift 23-year-old living in suburban LA off the leftovers of a decade-old accident settlement, sharing a junky house with four other unemployed, perpetually stoned expat Canucks (Jason, Jay, Jonah and Martin, played, respectively, by Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill and Martin Starr) all staving off the comedown of adulthood, one bong-rip at a time. Ben’s crisis comes wrapped in the guise of a miracle: On a routine night of club-hopping and binge-drinking with his posse, he picks up a receptive smile from Alison (Katherine Heigl), a statuesque entertainment TV employee several divisions out of his league who’s on the town to celebrate her matriculation to on-camera work. Copious beers and shots, along with Ben’s natural amiability, combine for a remarkably alchemic fission, and the two have a one-night-stand. The following morning’s disastrous attempt at a breakfast would seem to preclude any attempt at a follow-up, until eight weeks later a pregnancy test comes up with unanticipated results, and the two decide to have a go at making a family. (The concept is faintly sitcomic, but nevermind.)