Once I got beyond the premise of how stupid the whole thing was, I found the movie entertaining with believable characters, though mostly lacking in admirable qualities. Writer/director/producer Judd Apatow farts in our face, yet somehow we think it's funny and find it sweet.

Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) is a chubby, curly-headed, crude Canadian Jew residing illegally in LA with four similarly immature housemates who when they aren't getting high or futzing about are constructing a webpage, "Flesh of the Stars," that locates exclusively nude scenes (tits and bush) from films. Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is a sophisticated, gorgeous, blonde goya who works for E! and lives with her older sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) and Debbie's husband Pete (Paul Rudd) and their two young daughters.

After Allison receives a promotion, becoming an on-camera interviewer, she and Debbie go out to celebrate at a club for young hiphophotsters where Allison and Ben meet - he does her the favor of getting beers - after which Debbie goes home (responding to a cellphone call that one of her daughters may be ill) and Allison elects to stay with Ben. (Why? He's not the only guy on the scene.)

Inebriated they have intercourse: Ben misunderstands Allison's urgent request for his participation, "Just do it!" before he can affix a condom onto his raging bull before he lets it loose in her china shop. Eight weeks later she discovers she's pregnant and after getting conflicting advice decides to keep the baby. (Why? Nearly everything - her career that depends upon her attractiveness, her youth and independence, his pathetic irresponsible character - argue for an abortion. Even though her sister and Paul married following similar circumstances, Debbie says, "Your kid is going to be overweight".)

Okay, now that we've leaped over those two gorges, requiring suspension of disbelief, we can enjoy the rest of the story. After Allison, who hasn't seen Ben since their singular encounter, tells him she's going to have a baby, he says: "I just got use to the notion that someone would have sex with me." As they get to know each other, she says, "Don't f--k me over," to which he responds reassuringly, "I'm the guy girls f--k over."

Ben promises to be supportive of her choice, though he asks, "How am I gonna tell the kid not to do drugs when I do drugs?" After searching for a gynecologist with whom Allison feels a rapport, they decide on Dr Howard (Loudon Wainwright III, who also contributed two songs to the soundtrack), who promises to be available whenever the baby's due; however, at the critical time he's away in San Francisco at a bar mitzvah for three days. Ben leaves the doc an unforgettable voice message.

Ben proposes to Allison with an empty ring box, promising to get her a ring when he can afford one. Allison says, "I love you, but …" Allison is a witness to her sister's frustrations as a wife and mother - she and Pete argue over protecting their children from child molesters and mercury poisoning - and Debbie's suspicions that Pete is having an affair. Pete says, "Marriage is like a tense, unfunny version of Everybody Loves Raymond, only it doesn't last twenty-two minutes; it lasts forever." The numerous popular-fare references, such as TV shows, celebrities, and Spider Man III, will quickly date this film.

Pete and Ben become buddies, going off together to Vegas. Meanwhile, Allison and Debbie are refused admission to a club for being too old and pregnant. After disappointing Allison so often - refusing to read the baby books, not relinquishing his habits and his friends and their bad habits - Ben finally takes charge at the hospital where Allison's expectations seem about to miscarry.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2007 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .