Knocked Up
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Knocked Up is a 2007 American romantic comedy film written, co-produced and directed by Judd Apatow, and starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, and Leslie Mann. It follows the repercussions of a drunken one-night stand between a slacker and a recently promoted media personality that results in an unintended pregnancy.
The film was released on June 1, 2007, to box office success, grossing $219 million worldwide, and acclaim from critics.
Plot
Career-minded Los Angeles reporter Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) has just been given an on-air role with E! and lives in the guest house with her sister Debbie's (Leslie Mann) family. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) is a laid-back and sardonic Canadian immigrant who lives off injury compensation funds and sporadically works on a celebrity porn website with his stoner roommates. While celebrating her promotion, Alison meets Ben at a local nightclub. After a night of heavy drinking, they end up having sex without protection due to a misunderstanding. The following morning, they quickly learn over breakfast that they have little in common and go their separate ways.
Eight weeks later, Alison experiences morning sickness during an interview with James Franco and realizes she could be pregnant. She contacts Ben for the first time since their one-night stand to tell him. Although insensitive at first, Ben says he will be there to support Alison. While he is still unsure about being a parent, his father is excited. Alison's mother tries to persuade her daughter to have an abortion, but Alison decides to keep the child. Later, Alison and Ben decide to give the relationship a chance. The couple's efforts include Ben making an awkward marriage proposal with an empty ring box, promising to get her one someday. Alison thinks it's too early to think about marriage, because she is more concerned with hiding the pregnancy from her bosses, believing that they will fire her if they ever found out. After a somewhat promising beginning, tensions surface in the relationship.
Alison is increasingly worried about Ben's lack of responsibility and commitment, and has doubts about the longevity of their relationship. These thoughts are due to her sister's unhappy marriage. Debbie's husband, Pete (Paul Rudd), works as a talent scout for rock bands, but he leaves at odd hours in the night, which makes her suspect he is having an affair. Upon investigating, she learns that he is actually part of a fantasy baseball draft, and that he has been doing other activities such as going to the movies on his own, which he explains he participates in to be free from Debbie's controlling manner. This results in their separation, and when Ben expresses amusement at Pete's deception, it leads to a heated argument with Alison as they drive to her doctor. Angered, she ejects him from her car and abandons him in the middle of a busy street. He tracks her down to her appointment and they both start another argument, leading to their own breakup.
Ben and Pete decide to go on a road trip to Las Vegas. Under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms, they realize their loss and decide to take responsibility for their relationships. Simultaneously, Debbie drags a timid Alison out partying with her, but they are refused admission to a nightclub by its apologetic bouncer on account of Debbie's age and Alison's pregnancy; leading to Debbie's tearful laments about her life and her desire to have Pete back. They reconcile at their daughter's birthday party, but when Ben tries to work things out with Alison, she refuses to get back together. Alison's boss finds out about her pregnancy and sees an opportunity to boost ratings with female viewers by having Alison interview pregnant celebrities. After a talk with his father, Ben decides to take responsibility and goes to great effort to change his ways, including obtaining his own apartment, getting an office job as a web designer, and reading pregnancy books.
When Alison goes into labor and is unable to contact her doctor, she calls Ben, as Debbie and Pete are out of town. Ben discovers that Alison's gynecologist is at a Bar Mitzvah despite having assured them that he never took vacations and leaves him a furious voicemail. During labor, Alison apologizes for doubting Ben's commitment. When Debbie and Pete arrive at the hospital, Ben adamantly refuses to allow her to be at Alison's side, insisting that it is his place. Debbie is both furious and impressed that Ben took charge of the situation and begins to change her formerly negative opinion about him. The couple welcomes a baby girl (a boy in the alternate ending) and settle down happily together.
Cast
- Seth Rogen as Ben Stone
- Katherine Heigl as Alison Scott
- Paul Rudd as Pete
- Leslie Mann as Debbie
- Jason Segel as Jason
- Jay Baruchel as Jay
- Jonah Hill as Jonah
- Martin Starr as Martin
- Charlyne Yi as Jodi
- Iris Apatow as Charlotte
- Maude Apatow as Sadie
- Harold Ramis as Harris Stone
- Joanna Kerns as Mrs. Scott
- Alan Tudyk as Jack
- Kristen Wiig as Jill
- Bill Hader as Brent
- Ken Jeong as Dr. Kuni
- J. P. Manoux as Dr. Angelo
- Tim Bagley as Dr. Pellagrino
- B. J. Novak as Doctor
- Mo Collins as Doctor
- Loudon Wainwright as Dr. Howard
- Adam Scott as Samuel the Nurse
- Craig Robinson as Club Doorman
- Tami Sagher as Wardrobe Lady
- Stormy Daniels as Lap Dancer
- Nick Thune as Alison's Friend
