The new movie from 40 Year-Old Virgin director Judd Apatow opens this weekend. Grab a pen and write this down: It’s called Knocked Up. You need to be in line Friday night to buy a ticket, and I’m going to tell you why.

We, the movie going public, have dropped the ball so far this year. The three best, and most interesting movies of the year so far (Black Snake Moan, The Lookout, Grindhouse) have all been tremendous, unqualified flops. Hey, I know how it is. You’re busy, you have kids, your wife keeps making you mow the lawn. Me too. Well not the kids, but I do have grass. The point here is that life sucks. But you know what, it’s going to suck even more when Hollywood stops making good movies, because seriously, why should they if you’re not going to show up to see any of them? Why bother, when they can make horrible crap like Shrek 3 and make billions.

Knocked Up is another one of those best movies of the year. It’s brilliant, hilarious, wonderful, insert your own wildly positive adjective here. Unlike some of the year’s other best films, this one is opening in thousands of theaters all across the country, and it’s supported by a massive marketing campaign to make sure you know about it. You have no excuse not to support it. You know it’s out, it’s playing just down the street, and now, you’re finding out that it’s good. Really good.

So what the heck is this cinematic marvel about? It’s the story of a one night stand, that results in an unexpected kid, and the stoner slacker whose forced to grow up and be a man to take care of his kid. It’s a relationship movie, but told from the male perspective. That means gooey stuff for the ladies, and plenty of raunchy, hilarious guy stuff for the hairier half of the human equation. Seth Rogen smokes a joint with a fishbowl on his head. What self-respecting dude wouldn’t want to see that?

Right now Knocked Up has an amazing 92% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. That puts it well on its way to being one of the best reviewed films of the year. I saw it, and I love it. Read my review right here. If I still haven’t convinced you, then you’re probably a lost cause, but just in case some of you are still on the fence, check out what everyone else is saying about it too:

”Judd Apatow is making the freshest, most honest mainstream comedies in Hollywood.” - David Ansen, Newsweek

”Knocked Up earns its sentimental moments. These people are very funny, but also likable and real.” - Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

”It's a sincere meditation on adulthood, accountability, and fidelity -- and, yeah, getting high.” - Robert Wilonsky, Village Voice

”What do I already know after just one screening? That this belongs on the short list of the best comedies of the last twenty years.” - Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com

”Judd Apatow's raunchy and realistic look at sex, marriage and responsible parenting is one of the most consistently funny movies of the year.” - Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net

Want more? Check out a few trailers for Knocked Up, which only give you the barest glimpse of the film’s greatness:





R-Rated Red Band Trailer


Alright, I’ve done my part to support good cinema. Now it’s up to you. You can go see Knocked Up this weekend and get in on the ground floor of Seth Rogen becoming a massive movie star, or you can go see Kevin Costner suck yet again, in yet another lame serial killer movie called Mr. Brooks. Or you can stay home with your DVDs and wonder why Hollywood doesn’t release good movies anymore. Look in the mirror buddy, and there’s your answer.

Will you see Knocked Up this weekend? Yes! No. I hate good movies. Still undecided.   Results