Release Date: 9/25/07

The Film

Judd Apatow has single-handedly brought back the raunchy comedy in 2007. With his mixing and matching of witty and clever toilet humor along with some genuinely heartfelt moments, the writer/director has really hit his stride with films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the recent theatrical hit, Superbad, and Knocked Up, now available on DVD in a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition. Using his ragtag group of unlikely stars, Apatow strikes a cord for the everyman with hilarious dialogue and insanely outrageous spins on everyday life situations.

The film follows the lives of Ben Stone (Seth Rogen), a bumbling slacker who’s into smoking weed and looking for nude scenes in movies. Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is a career girl who’s moving up the ladder at the E! network. Their paths cross at a club where Alison is celebrating a promotion, a few too many drinks are consumed, and through a moment of miscommunication, the two now find themselves the future parents of an unexpected baby.

The spine of the comedy is nothing new, however, it’s the comedic writing and superb cast that really drive this thing home. Ben’s roommates, which include the likes of Jonah Hill of Superbad fame, are great for that over-the-top single guy perspective on fatherhood, while Alison’s sister and brother-in-law are a nice glimpse into the future of an unsatisfying marriage. Part romantic comedy and part all out raunch-fest, the film is a great comedy that hits on all cylinders causing tear inducing laughter.

The DVD

The main menu comes with animated backgrounds featuring hilarious scenes and dialogue from the film. Submenus are presented similarly, providing for a very funny menu system that is actually worth watching for a few minutes.

The video is offered in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Format. The video transfer looks great with rich colors and a good deal of detail. It’s a picture that is free of grain and error, and is overall a very nice looking transfer.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 2.0, and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0. The sound is very exceptional with the surround speakers used thoroughly throughout the film. Dialogue is clean and crisp while the soundtrack comes through brilliantly. Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish.

The Extras

This 2-disc set comes in a single standard Amaray case with an extra flap on the inside housing the extra disc. It’s all encased within a cardboard slipcase that includes an extra flap that opens up to reveal stills and quotes from the film. The DVDs come with a whole boat load of bonus extras that will definitely keep you coming back for, including hilarious outtakes and and some interesting spoof featurettes.

The Audio Commentary track is provided bywriter/director Judd Apatow, executive producer/star Seth Rogen, and actor Bill Hader.

There’s a whole mess of unused material that make up a good chunk of the bonus options that are actually worth viewing and checking out. Deleted Scenes are found on both discs with the option on the first disc running 19-minutes and offering14 unused scenes while the second disc throws up 14 scenes running 30-minutes. Both options include Play All options.

Extended/Alternate Scenes are also found on both discs with 4 scenes running 9-minutes on the first disc while the second disc includes 8 scenes containing 29-minutes of alternate material. Play All options are included.

Line-O-Rama runs about 4-minutes on the first disc and 7-minutes on the second disc. Essentially, these are quick-fire takes of scenes from the film with different dialogue… also very funny.

Gag Reels are found on both discs as well with 2 different versions found on the second disc (5 and 4-minutes long a piece). The first disc includes a 4-minute Gag Reel.

Rollercoaster Doc offers a 5-minute piece that shows us how Jay Baruchel handled his fears filming on a rollercoaster.

Directing the Director is the first of spoof featurettes showing us what happens when the studio executives send in Bennett Miller of Capote fame to look over Apatow’s shoulder. The piece runs about 8-minutes and again, provides for plenty of fun.

The Video Diaries option features Apatow guiding us through 22 days of shooting. There is a Play All option and collectively, the piece runs 28-minutes.

Kids on the Loose is another light hearted piece running 6-minutes featuring the children of the film running wild during shoots and on set.

Beard-O-Rama is a 4-minute feature that offers more beard jokes from the outtakes and also takes us backstage to see the make-up sessions.

Next up are a couple of Dr. Kuni pieces. The Kuni Files runs about 6-minutes and features the doctor in character as he tours the set. Kuni Gone Wild is a 6-minute extended scene that showcases the doctor’s hilarious venom tongue.

Gummy: The 6th Roommate runs about 7-minutes and is yet another spoof feature that goes into a fictitious extra roommate that never made it on screen.

Stripper Confidential offers a 2-minute feature that shows the hardships behind shooting a scene involving strippers.

Finding Ben Stone runs 30-minutes and features a mock casting call for the role of Ben.

Loudon Wainright III Scoring Session features a 5-minute piece led by Wainright himself speaking on the whole process.

First Sex on Camera is a quick minute-and-a-half piece going into Rogen’s and Hill’s first sex scenes on camera.

Next up are a couple of alternate takes featuring Rogen not wearing a shirt: Topless Scene – Restaurant and Topless Scene – Web Design Company.

Raw Footage offers a couple of options featuring the cameras rolling while the actors just riff and banter: Geisha House runs about 11-minutes and Swingers runs about 7-minutes.

The Katherine Heigl Audition runs about 7-minutes.

The bonus options round out with Music Loudon Wainright III’s performing You Can’t Fail Me Now, Grey in LA, and Daughter Live at McCabe’s.

Final Thoughts

Knocked Up – 2-Disc Collector’s Edition is one of 2007’s must own DVDs. Aside from the gut-bustingly hilarious comedy, the bonus options are actually worth watching and will quite possibly make you laugh harder than you did during the movie itself.

- Morris Tang