Movie review: Knocked up

By Chris Turner -


What begins with a plausible, funny plot, Knocked up transforms into an overly long, more serious exploration on relationships, responsibility, compatibility, and family. The initial scenes are comic enough, yet the union between the protagonists -- Alison and Ben -- continues to a less plausible (to me, at least) relationship between the two due to Alison's pregnancy. I found the Ben and Alison relationship unlikely, considering her ambition and blossoming, very public television career, countered by his dope-induced lack of momentum and immaturity, but especially as the plot moves forward and it's revealed that Ben is increasingly unable to grasp a parental level of involvement or an informed nature. Tiffani, on the other hand, saw an honesty and understanding between the leads that was refreshing and hopeful, and certainly the ending doesn't disappoint in that regards. Somewhat funny and somewhat illuminating, Knocked up tries very hard to straddle a difficult gap, and succeeds to a mild degree. That's what my folks called "Damning with faint praise."

Comments

Tiffani Turner said…
Chris left out the fact that I fell asleep within the first 45 minutes, if that tells you anything about the movie.?! It is simple minded, and a waste of time.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 9:06:00 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easy Rider?

By Chris Turner -
In the instruction phase, it's all about the confidence. In the aftermath, it's all about the freedom. Family friendly edit Original, adult version
Read more

In Memoriam: J. Morgan Sweeney, Ph.D

By Chris Turner -
Image
Our good friend, Dr. J. Morgan Sweeney, passed away while teaching in London on Wednesday, August 8, 2007. Morgan -- an Irishman by clan, an Englishman by education, and a Gotham resident during his youth (his father was employed at the United Nations ) -- returned to the United States after completing his Ph.D at Oxford , and took a job with the History Department of Michigan State in 1976. Morgan wrote and lectured on modern European history, especially British, was active teaching in MSU's Study Abroad program in London , and was especially valued and loved by former students. Click for the obituary. Not having Morgan as an instructor during my time at MSU, I was introduced to him by our mutual friend, Drew Beiter, a former student. With Drew sequestered off working in California or Wyoming or the greater Buffalo area, and me living here in Williamston or Grand Ledge, I was able to more fully develop my own relationship with Morgan. More recently, Morgan was our infreque
Read more

Sophia's Surgical Narrative

By Chris Turner -
A camera and microphone are installed on all modern Macintoshes, along with an application called PhotoBooth , which allows users to take photos of themselves, along with movies. Thursday after Sophia's surgery, Seamus was upstairs playing Mario Kart on the Wii , and from the back room, curiously, I could hear Sophie discussing the previous day's procedure and figured it was via PhotoBooth. Without anyone's urging she videoblogged the enclosed entry, and I tracked down the video file in her account to upload for everyone's information.
Read more