Battle of the Netflix Stars #2

Bout #2: Battle of the Seth Rogen Flicks

Movie:Knocked Up

Superbad

Year:20072007
Director:Judd ApatowGreg Mottola
Star Power:Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl and the glorious Paul Rudd.Seth Rogen and the new crop of "funny, smart-ass teen actors."
Plot:Oafish slacker Ben and pretty career-woman Alison meet at a bar and have a drunken one-night stand. When Alison ends up pregnant, she decides to keep the baby and make a go of things with the baby's daddy. Things in their budding relationship do not go smoothly and hilarity ensues.During their last weeks of high school, best buds Seth and Evan worry about what will happen when they head off to separate colleges. Wanting to end their high school careers with a bang, the boys, along with nerdy friend Fogell, attempt to buy alcohol for a party so that they can get some girls liquored up enough to have sex with them. The evening does not go smoothly, and hilarity ensues.
Pros:One of the more believable relationship stories I've seen depicted, where everything is not all sweetness and light and sex isn't always sexy. As with all of Apatow's work, there is a nice mix of smart and silly humor. The supporting cast does a great job of bringing the laughs, especially Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd as Alison's paranoid sister and jaded brother-in-law. Also, if you're not a Ryan Seacrest fan, you will be after seeing his cameo. He is totally hilarious.Seriously funny dialogue, and a dead-on depiction of what little horny assholes high school boys are. Even though it's mostly raunchy humor, there's an undercurrent of sweetness because of the genuine hetero love and affection that Seth and Evan have for each other. Then, of course, there's the presence of the immediately iconic character: McLovin.
Cons:It felt like it dragged on a bit too long, and Alison and Ben both started to get on my nerves after a while. Both characters could've used a good, swift kick in the ass.There were probably too many scenes with the two idiot cops played by Seth Rogen and Bill Hader. They were funny, but it got a bit old after a while. Oh, and Paul Rudd isn't in this one. Booo.
My Thoughts:It's a pretty funny movie, but I could've done without seeing Seth Rogen flopping around on top of Katherine Heigl for what felt like an eternity. Sometimes it seemed like it was just being raunchy for raunchiness's sake. The jokes weren't nearly as funny and the "heartwarming" moments weren't nearly as interesting as in The 40 Year Old Virgin.This is a case where raunchy humor works and is absolutely necessary, because this is how teenage boys are. Except I don't remember knowing any that were this damn funny.
Final Grade:CA-

Comments

So question: do you think in real life that woman really would have made the decision she made in the end? (trying not to give a spoiler)

Haven't seen Superbad but have wanted to. If the Pop Eye gives it an A, I'm there! At least if Michael Johns isn't in it.
Historical Wit said…
Alright, Knocked Up was pretty funny. I felt it needed some editing to cut some corners. But in the end, it was a good movie. Hey I was entertained. Maximus says I must be. Anyway, I loved the eceen where siste thought hubby was cheating and he was playing fantasy baseball. "We got Matsui!" was a great line.

Superbad? Where do I begin. "hey isn' that tape evidence?" "The only thing thats evidence of is you can take a punch." while at the bar was great. And the tape was funny too. But this movie was funny as shit. I laughed and laughed cause this is how us boys talk when girls aint around. So freaking true. Nice to read this on a monday. Lightens the day up already. I guess I should get to work. I have been here for 20 minutes and managed to place a call for breakfast....
doorknob_dan said…
I think the funniest part in a movie that I heard in 2007 is in Superbad when the kid is talking to the cute girl about getting booze (it was a while ago, so I might be wrong).

She says, "You scratch my back, I'll scratch your back."

He replies with something to the effect of, "If by 'back' you mean 'COCK'?"

HAHAHA, man that was funny. I love that movie, and normally I never like stupid teen movies.
Superbad was an instant teen classic. Loved it.

The line you're thinking of, DD, is: "Funny thing about my back - it's on my cock." Hilarious!
Red said…
I'm about to lose all my street cred here, but I didn't really like Superbad. I thought the cops were funny, but that was about it.

I laughed my ass off at Knocked Up, but I agree...it dragged on about 30 minutes too long and The 40 Year-Old Virgin was better.
Well done. I like these side-by-side reviews. I'll take your advice & see Superbad, since I haven't seen either of these movies yet!

ps My comment word verification was "LordPH." I like that, for some reason.
Scott Booker said…
As I have only seen Knocked up...I would have to say its better....but give a little time...and the DVD...and I may change my mind!! :)
Falwless said…
This vaguely relates, but one of my all-time favorite scenes in any movie is the completely smashed Nicky (Leslie Mann) drunk driving in The 40 Year-Old Virgin. I have never before or since witnessed a more precise reenactment of someone who is seriously wasted.

When she says this it makes me laugh every single freakin' time.
Happy Villain said…
I haven't seen either of these movies yet, even though I've rented them both and returned them both because I just didn't make time to watch. People with indiscriminate humor (i.e. people who laugh out loud at greeting cards) have said they're hilarious, so I didn't take that to heart, but your reviews make me think maybe I should give them a shot. After all, 40-Year-Old Virgin was one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for the review!
Claire said…
I really liked both movies, but you're right about Knocked Up; the supporting cast was the best thing (and Seacrest was hilarious).
Superbad doesn't get the crap it deserves for spending a third of its length on those dumb ass cops, who don't belong in the movie at all. Another good movie that I now dislike because people keep talking about how great it is.
Have not seen either....yeah I know...pathetic
Alice said…
i loved both, i must say. although, want a recipe for awkward?

try going to see knocked up as a 3rd date movie. you know, the date where you both understand you're supposed to go home afterwards and finally have some sex? right. watch that birth scene, THEN go home and try to get some. AWK.
Joe said…
Thank you for another great review!
Lee Ann said…
I did see Knocked Up, but I never saw Superbad.
Love the breakdowns.
Have a great week Beck!
~xo
Lee Ann
I hated Knocked Up. And I usually like Seth Rogan. I think it was that Hegel woman who ruined it for me.
I haven't seen Knocked Up, but I pretty much LOVED Superbad! You summed it up perfectly, you!
Bar L. said…
Great review and I am very impressed that you have a table in your post. Very professional.

I haven't seen either but both are on my Netflix list along with about 300 other flix I don't have time to watch!
Anonymous said…
Liked them both but I gotta agree Superbad was funnier.