I can't work out if I want to see either of these, despite being a huge fan of Michael Cera and Seth Rogan (the latter from his Freaks and Geeks days). Are they worth seeing? I shall let YOU decide.
UPDATE: also with Michael Cera - this looks great,
And I've been following the writer Diablo Cody's blog for ages (she used to be a stripper, you know), so I win.
17 comments:
I've seen Knocked Up and I thought it was very good, but don't go in expecting a laugh riot. It's not as hilarious as I'd imagined given the concept, but the characters are well-drawn, the plot is involving and there are some funny moments.
Haven't seen Superbad, but the word "on the street" is that it's funnier than Knocked Up, but not as good overall (weighing up plot/characters, etc).
Superbad is said to be the best teen/sex comedy in years, while Knocked Up is the best rom-com in years.
So take your pic! :)
Superbad. I liked Knocked Up as well, but Judd Apetow movies have that thing were they're really funny but they tend to drag on a bit at the middle....
They're both worth watching despite this.
Though, definitely, Superbad.
svkzewwh: the blasphemous and so wonderfully satisfying swear word I growled when it didn't like my comment the first time I tried to post it.
I mean Judd Apatow.
Damn.
Hmm, thanks for the reviews. I think I'm leaning towards Knocked Up. Mark Kermode's review of Superbad did put me off seeing it, even though he was WRONG about Transformers, which was of course completely brilliant. Apart from the rubbish bits. Of which there were a fair few, but the brilliant bits outshone them LIKE THE SUN ITSELF.
I've seen both and I liked Superbad much more. Michael Cera is fantastic as always and the guy that plays "McLovin" is a find. Oh, and Bill Hader as the police officer is great to. Knocked Up was a really funny though, especially Paul Rudd's character. Judd Apatow's daughters get some funny moments to. "I googled murder." But as nicole said, both movies tend to drag on a bit.
Or if you're really finding it hard to decided, you could just watch both, and laugh for about 4 hours. Then again that means you have to choose which one to watch first. God, it's confusing.
The Times tag on Knocked Up reads, "The best comedy ever made" or something equally hyperbolic.
I haven't seen either but intend to see both. Maybe this weekend. Ooh, along with Michael Winterbottom's new flick with Angelina in it, huzzah.
I've seen both already, revealing myself to be a bit of a Judd Apatow-worshipper. I absolutely love 40-Year Old Virgin - expected it to be terrible with that title and was massively surprised! Freaks and Geeks is also probably in my top Three American shows ever (not that I'm that old - I don't remember Diff'rent Strokes or anything). Neither film is as good as the afore-mentioned, but they are certainly both well worth a watch.
Knocked Up is probably a little less funny, and the plot is slightly forced, but it is the more emotionally satisfying - the actual birth leaves you wondering at the miracle of life the way a good birth should.
Superbad IS crude - but I'm with Charlie Brooker in his recent column, which rails against the easily offended. If you're offended by something, it's YOU and not the offender who has the problem. My girlfriend didn't like it much, but it's definitely an investigation of male friendships - a thing that I think Apatow and crew portray onscreen as well as anybody ever has. All this stuff about it being closet gay has me slightly annoyed - the whole point is that close male friendships in the early teens are as loving as a relationship can get, and they are, in fact, CEMENTED by the shared adolescent yearning for female companionship. It certainly strikes a chord with me anyway, and I'm not gay (at least not very much)!
Kermode is a great film reviewer, but he has no taste in comedies. He spends far too much time worrying about hidden offensive subtexts and not enough just reflexively laughing. He complains about SuperBad's portrayal of men as misogynistic, but misses the deeper point about boys of a certain age's complete lack of understanding of women as the objects that they yearn for - a confusion covered up with tasteless bravado.
There are also related references in both films to the world of internet pornography, and it's affect upon those who consume it, a salient topic which I have never really seen tackled onscreen - albeit obliquely as it is here....
In other news, Juno looks good. I like the use of Moldy Peaches and Mott The Hoople. Also, I want to shrink Ellen Page down and carry her around in my pocket. I heard she's a lesbian to, which reduces my chances somewhat. *sigh*
Sorry, that post got a little unwieldy....
Interesting stuff though, cheers Dan.
Hotzappa - I think lesbians are just as shrinkable as other women, although I may have to check.
Knocked up- not so much.
Superbad- YES. and three times yes. It's like no other teensex comedies, it doesn't leave you feeling dirty:D and that's saying something.
My enjoyment of Knocked Up was marred by the twentysomething couple in the seats beside me expressing their joy and affection for one another by apparently fellating each other unconscious.
That said, it was a joyful film, although not deserving of the shrieking hyperbole it received.
p.s But Transformers was awesome.
Both Knocked Up and Superbad have been accused of being misogynist and I really didn't see it at all. Not even thinking about them in retrospect.
Superbad was just proper funny from beginning to end and it's story took surprising turns. Knocked Up was good but had too many unfunny and dodgy moments to be called a 'classic', I think.
you must must must see superbad its totally brilliant
like Dan I loved the 40 year old virgin despite the title and after all the rave reviews was really looking forward to knocked up but probably because of all the hype was a bit disappointed. A few really good moments though. Being a lady of (ahem!) a certain age, I loved the bit when the sister couldn't get into the club because she was too old. Very perceptive. I haven't seen Superbad but have a feeling I'll love it. Strangely I love teen sex comedies and still crack up every time I see American Pie. This worries me given that I'm about as far removed from their target audience as it's possible to be.
Superbad had me honking loudly into my popcorn. Michael Cera is the Black Prince of deadpan, and Arrested Development should be resurrected pronto.
Saw Knocked Up on Monday - it's more of a comedy drama than an out and out comedy. It's not that there's lots of jokes that fail, just that they're fairly sparse. When they hit, though, they're hilarious.
Oh, and not misogynist at all.
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