June 07, 2022

'Knocked Up'

The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, and Craig Horlbeck use the dice move a bit too much as they celebrate the 15th anniversary of Judd Apatow's 'Knocked Up,' starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, and Leslie Mann.

Movie poster

Cast

Seth Rogen as Ben Stone

Katherine Heigl as Allison Scott

Paul Rudd as Pete

Leslie Mann as Debbie

Jason Segel as Jason

Jonah Hill as Jonah

Martin Starr as Martin

Ken Jeong as Dr. Kuni

Craig Robinson as Doorman

Kristen Wiig as Jill

Bill Hader as Brent

Alan Tudyk as Jack

Harold Ramis as Ben's Dad

Ryan Seacrest as Himself

Directed by: Judd Apatow

Written by: Judd Apatow

Notes

  • Made for $25 million, grossed $219 million worldwide.
  • Anne Hathaway was originally cast as Allison but dropped out over disagreements about using real childbirth footage. Mila Kunis auditioned and didn't get it, but Apatow remembered her and cast her in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'.
  • Katherine Heigl torpedoed her career after a 2008 Vanity Fair cover story where she said the film 'paints the women as shrews' and insulted Grey's Anatomy and Shonda Rhimes. Seth Rogen was wounded; Apatow expected a private apology that never came.
  • The supporting cast all use their real first names (Jay, Jonah, Jason, Martin), but Seth Rogen's character is named Ben – because they were doing extensive improv using their real names.
  • Ken Jeong had never been in a movie before this – he was still a practicing doctor transitioning to acting.
  • Jay Baruchel was genuinely terrified of rollercoasters, so all of his reactions are real. The crew kept getting sick from repeated filming.
  • 'Superbad' came out just two months after 'Knocked Up'. Apatow's producing run from 2005-2011 is arguably the best comedy producing run ever.
  • In other countries, the movie was released as 'Slightly Pregnant' because 'Knocked Up' doesn't translate.
  • Heigl received only $300,000 for the film.
  • The Apatow kids (Maude and Iris) play Debbie and Pete's daughters using their real names. Maude Apatow went on to have a crucial role in Euphoria.

Categories

Most re-watchable scene
  • Bill: The nightclub scene – the guys busting on Martin, buying the beers, Leslie Mann and Heigl interacting with Jason Segel, the dice move.
  • Craig: The fantasy baseball draft scene where Leslie Mann walks in – 'We said no wives! Your fantasy what?... Honey, we got Matsui.'
  • Juliet: Seth Rogen interacting with Maude Apatow for the first time at the breakfast table. Also Allison visiting the guys' house – Jonah Hill watching 'Wild Things' saying 'Another day at the office'.
  • Also: the double date ('Why don't the two of you get into your time machine'), the Vegas mushrooms sequence, the Craig Robinson doorman scene.
What aged the best?
  • Bill: Jonah Hill – every moment he's in, he's crushing it. Craig: 'One of the best yellers in comedy history.'
  • The Apatow kids (Maude and Iris) – knowing Maude becomes a legitimate actress on Euphoria makes it fascinating to rewatch.
  • Ryan Seacrest's cameo making fun of himself – 'the most lovable he has ever been' (Juliet).
  • Craig: Jason Segel naked after the earthquake, cupping his junk. Also Seth Rogen's Matthew Fox dig: 'You know what's interesting about Matthew Fox? Nothing.'
  • The randoms who became bigger: Bill Hader, Craig Robinson, Ken Jeong, James Franco and Steve Carell cameos, Adam Scott as the nurse.
What aged the worst?
  • The movie is 132 minutes – way too long. Too much Leslie Mann/Paul Rudd subplot; the second half drags (all three hosts).
  • Katherine Heigl's wardrobe – 'so of that moment': flowy halter tops, too-low-and-too-wide jeans (Juliet).
  • Debbie being anti-vax – 'does not play well' post-COVID (Juliet and Bill).
  • Ken Jeong's doctor character – too mean (Craig). Bill: 'I didn't like his character at all.'
  • They kept saying 'webpage' instead of website (Juliet).
Weak link of the movie
  • Bill: The fantasy baseball cheating subplot – nine minutes in the middle about whether Paul Rudd's character is cheating, with no real payoff. 'This is supposed to be about Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl.'
  • Craig: 'I think Judd fell in love with that storyline more than the original one halfway through the movie.'
The hottest take award
  • Bill: Katherine Heigl and Lindsay Lohan are the two lost superstars of the decade.
  • Juliet: She should have had an abortion. 'He's a 23-year-old with zero dollars, no job, doesn't have his own home.'
Casting what-ifs
  • Anne Hathaway was originally cast but dropped out over childbirth footage disagreements. Juliet: 'She would have been excellent.'
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kate Bosworth, and Christina Aguilera reportedly auditioned.
  • Mila Kunis auditioned but didn't get it – Apatow put her on 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' instead.
Over-acting award
  • The pigtail stoner girl (Charlyne Yi) – improvising with no lines, 'she's in a different movie'.
  • Ken Jeong's doctor character – too aggressive for no reason.
Best "heat check" performance
  • Bill: Kristen Wiig – in two scenes, really funny in both, really elevates them.
  • Juliet: Ryan Seacrest. Craig breaks the tie for Wiig.
  • Other nominees: Bill Hader, Iris Apatow, Stormy Daniels, Craig Robinson.
Re-casting couch
  • Bill: Sydney Sweeney in the Heigl role.
  • Juliet: Gaten Matarazzo (from Stranger Things) as the Seth Rogen role.
Half-assed (internet) research
  • Jay Baruchel's rollercoaster reactions are all real – everyone kept throwing up during filming.
  • DVD special feature where Michael Cera gets fake-fired and Bennett Miller comes in to co-direct.
  • Katherine Heigl was only #14 on Maxim's Hot 100 of 2007.
  • In 2014, Heigl owned eight dogs, four cats, nine horses, two donkeys, two goats, and eight chickens.
Apex Mountain
  • Katherine Heigl – unanimous.
  • Judd Apatow – possibly. This plus 'Superbad' within two months. Juliet thinks 40-Year-Old Virgin edges it.
  • Seth Rogen – this proved he could be a leading man, then 'Superbad' two months later.
  • Unplanned pregnancy movies – this is the apex (Bill).
  • Fantasy sports moments in movies – possibly the most high-profile ever (Craig).
Picking nits
  • The condom miscommunication doesn't make sense – just have a broken condom instead (all three).
  • She would never stay at the bar alone without her sister or another friend (Juliet).
  • Paul Rudd barely works but has a beautiful Brentwood home. Seth Rogen gets a huge apartment after working for a week (Craig).
(Probably) unanswerable questions
  • Can you get pink eye from farting on a pillow? Craig: 'That was a known thing in college – people called it frat eye.'
  • How does Ben pay for literally anything? No one in this group is working (Juliet).
Sequel, prequel, prestige TV or untouchable?

Bill: Eight episodes on Amazon – similar to Catastrophe with Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan.

Best "that guy"
  • Juliet: Alan Tudyk as Allison's boss at E!
  • Bill: Joanna Kerns – the mom from Growing Pains plays Leslie Mann and Katherine Heigl's mother.
Best double feature for this movie
  • Bill: This Is 40 – running it back with the same characters.
  • Craig: 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' – 'Give me Segel now.'
  • Juliet: 'Adventureland' – many of the same people, directed by Greg Mottola.
Best needle drop
  • Craig and Juliet: 'Shimmy Shimmy Ya' by Ol' Dirty Bastard right at the start.
  • Bill: 'Rock Lobster' by the B-52s when they go back to his place.
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
  • Bill and Craig: The Larami Tuncel gas mask bong.
  • Juliet: The random samurai sword that Ben owns.
Best (or worst!) life lessons from the movie

Bill: Don't fall for an unemployed stoner making a Mr. Skin ripoff site.

Who won the movie?

Juliet and Bill: Seth Rogen – this movie opened the door for him as a leading man, then 'Superbad' two months later made him an acting/writing powerhouse.

Producer review
  • Craig gave it high marks – 'Finally, there's just a bunch of idiots watching Family Guy, smoking weed – somebody put that on screen.'
  • Craig thinks the ideal length would be about 1 hour 45 minutes (currently 2 hours 12 minutes).