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by Flick Chick Vique

Knocked Up gets 4 Red Vines for big laughs

Once upon a time, he was the hardest working man in movies. In fact, on a lark, some college guys made up a game based on his prolific movie making. With a little work you could connect anybody in show business to Kevin Bacon with 6 actors or less. I propose a new guy to play the game with: Paul Rudd.

Between his TV roles: Phoebe’s husband in Friends, the overly touchy-feely Lamaze instructor on Reno: 911! and films like Anchor Man, The Ex and Night at the Museum, it seems like you could easily connect Paul to just about anybody in Hollywood! Now Rudd has his biggest part to date: a featured supporting role in Judd Apatow’s newest blockbuster comedy, Knocked Up.

From the man who brought you the insanity of The 40 Year Old Virgin, comes a new comedy extolling the pain and pleasures of an unexpected pregnancy resulting from a one-night stand. And while you might find the concept morally reprehensible, the laughs are non-stop.

Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) is on the fast track to success as a celebrity interviewer. To celebrate her new position she goes to a nightclub with her married sister, Leslie Mann (40 Year Old Virgin, Big Daddy). Seems big sis is feeling a bit like a fish wife these days and is in need of letting loose with some harmless flirtation. They hook up with a couple of guys for drinking and dancing but when big sis leaves, little sis has one too many and ends up taking her loveable loser home.

Upon waking up, Alison (Heigl) is more than just a little turned off by what’s sleeping in her bed. Seth Rogen (40 Year Old Virgin) is lumpy, dumpy, and scruffy. I doubt there has ever been a more mismatched couple– not just in looks but in everything. Rogen’s character, Ben, spends his days living a frat boy lifestyle, getting high, and cruising movies for nudity with his pals. Alison works hard surrounded by glamorous stars, getting more glam herself by the minute. She lives with her sister’s family (Heigl, Rudd) and is totally immersed in all things familial. Things are going great until she throws up at work. And does it again and again. When she ‘does the math’ she finds out, like many women, that math is not her friend!

Okay, the totally implausible: Rogen scoring with Heigl, becomes the totally unbelievable when Heigl tries to have a serious relationship with Rogen, all in the name of motherhood. Yeah, it’s totally ridiculous but very, very funny.

Judd Apatow has struck gold again. Knocked Up is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a long time. The cast is pretty big and features a lot of bit players Apatow has mined from his past work on Freaks & Geeks and The 40 Year Old Virgin. All players are perfectly cast and do their best to make their few scenes stand out. Plus, his four leads are really terrific. In fact I couldn’t tell you whom I liked best, they were all so good.

The showing I went to was filled with 20-somethings and at times the laughter was so loud, I missed lines. I haven’t experienced that since Meet the Parents!