Knocked Up

[enarchay]

I rented Knocked Up last night. Despite countless raunchy scenes (most of which I forwarded through), the movie had a good point, a coherent plot, and well-developed characters (though I hated Ben's friends). I expected this because the movie received really good reviews, with about 91 percent good reviews on rottentomatoes.

I think the movie begs the question: is subjecting ourselves to the evil of the world in films to see the small amount of good that sometimes emerges from it worth it? I mean by this, the movie is filled with raunchiness to contrast the later behavior of the two protagonists with the rest of the characters. It also gives us aspect on what the world is like: people having sex, doing drugs, getting pregnant before marriage, etc. The raunchiness of the main characters also allows for character development. This is similar to what happens in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: even Huck uses the N-word throughout though he is the one who eventually learns to cope with slavery. Sometimes characters need to be depicted at first as totally depraved so as they develop you notice the changes and this is exactly what the director of Knocked Up does with Ben (his "mistake" teaches him lessons about life, brings him love, and helps him get his life together).

Imagine what the Bible would be like without Jacob having sex with Leah by mistake instead of Rachel, David committing adultery, pagan gods, military slaughter, and so on. Now imagine if you tried to capture all those details on film. Would you not have a borderline raunchy film?

[Amie]

Well Zach,

I finally rented it, but haven't watched it yet. I will get back to ya :).

Amie

[antservant]

I often speak of "the worm in the apple" with regard to your comments about getting past the evil and enjoying the good. We must "never lay our armor down" as the hymn writer put it. Another illustration I use is "watermelon theology" -- eating fruit, but spitting seeds. BUT I know for a fact that I have throughout my lifetime eaten many seeds, and probably have rejected lots of fruit. :)

[Amie]

I finally had the chance to watch it yesterday.

I saw growth in both characters - and the need for growth in both.

The girl allowed her prejudices to take a back seat, she accepted him as he was and opened her heart.

Ben saw a reason not to go to jail and to create some earning power.

Both of them imo, were already great people and I enjoyed watching them get past the "Montague vs Capulet" thinking and connect.

I do not find the real world to be raunchy, though I see how this could be offensive for some.

I laughed all of the way through it, and cried at the end.

Amie