So we have to acknowledge that writer-director Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") indulges in more than a bit of male fantasy to lure us in. Somehow this story wouldn't work with a Cary Grant/George Clooney type as the male lead. At the same time, though, "Knocked Up," in its entertaining way, does a great job of showing how messy life can get and how people still manage to get through it; how life's unexpected challenges sometimes can help people find meaning and direction.
Ben, despite his immaturity and lapses in judgment, and Alison are so likable that we can't help but root for them as they navigate the minefields of love and commitment. Rogen and Heigl are perfectly cast as these characters. Rogen projects just the right blend of cluelessness and genuine charm, while Heigl is so convincingly warm and sincere that we really think of her as the dream girl next door, and not an actress playing one.
Leslie Mann (Apatow's real-life wife) and Paul Rudd provide terrific support as Alison's sister and brother-in-law, who are dealing with relationship issues of their own. Tim Miller can be reached at tmiller@capecodonline.com.
So we have to acknowledge that writer-director Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") indulges in more than a bit of male fantasy to lure us in.
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