Knocked Up Blu-ray Review

"Knocked Up" lands on Blu-ray with a 133-minute unrated and unprotected cut, comfortably hosted on a BD-50 dual-layer disc. It presents itself with an impressive 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, framed at a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Enthusiasts will appreciate the option to switch between extended and theatrical cuts, easily toggled both at startup and during playback, enhancing the viewing flexibility. This edition reutilizes the print master from the prior HD DVD release, ensuring a consistent visual experience across formats. The digital canvas of "Knocked Up" is notably pristine, showcasing a transfer free of any blemishes, married with deep, stable blacks. While contrast veers towards the hotter end of the spectrum without pushing boundaries excessively, it does contribute to an imbalance in color representation.

The predominant issue with this transfer lies in its color grading, which leans heavily towards yellow tones. This choice, whether stylistic or otherwise, mars flesh tones with an unnatural pallor and dilutes the overall vibrancy of the imagery. Combined with the elevated contrast levels, it results in highlights that appear somewhat lackluster, diminishing both detail and depth in brighter scenes. Nonetheless, shadow detail stands out as a strong point with commendable clarity and texture visible even in dimly lit environments.

Although the sharpness of the image is exemplary and the transfer is largely free from noise and edge enhancement artifacts, it's evident that this release does not embody the pinnacle of Universal's Blu-ray repertoire. Despite these grievances, "Knocked Up" on Blu-ray still manages to secure a respectable position thanks to its clean print and robust black levels. However, the issues with color fidelity and contrast prevent it from achieving a wholesale recommendation. While far from being described as a home run in Universal's catalog, it securely rounds the bases as a noteworthy effort.

The audio presentation of "Knocked Up" on Blu-ray delivers an impressive auditory experience, particularly for a film in the romantic comedy genre. Equipped with a 5.1 24/48 kHz DTS-HD Master Audio lossless soundtrack, it also offers French and Spanish DTS core tracks at 1.5mbps. The sound design is predominantly front-loaded, as expected with this type of film, with surround and LFE channels coming into noticeable play mainly during club scenes. However, dialogues are rendered with impeccable clarity, and the mix balances well between speech, music, and effects, ensuring no component overwhelms another. The seamless integration of music—ranging from score pieces to rock/pop tunes—into the rears and LFE channels enhances the film's atmosphere without sacrificing any aspect of the listening experience.

Technical specifications of the Blu-ray's audio track are robust, featuring a clean frequency response that covers the full audio spectrum and delivers a solid bass punch when necessary. The track's dynamic range showcases the improved capabilities of the DTS-HD MA track over its HD DVD counterpart, offering a marginally better background noise definition and a slightly tighter low-frequency effect (LFE), although these improvements are subtle. Moreover, the soundtrack takes advantage of the discrete surround channels during the more active scenes, making the club visits particularly engaging from an auditory perspective.

In comparison to its peers and predecessors in the romantic comedy domain, 'Knocked Up' stands out with its sound design. The Blu-ray release, with its high-resolution audio, provides a clear, well-balanced mix where dialogue, music, and effects coalesce to elevate the viewing experience. Despite the minimal qualitative leap from the HD DVD's Dolby Digital-Plus to Blu-ray's DTS-HD MA, this presentation makes 'Knocked Up' sound as good as it possibly can, setting a high standard for audio quality within its genre.

The Blu-ray release of "Knocked Up" impressively compiles all the extras from the two-disc DVD version, rectifying the shortcomings of the previous HD DVD release by including every featurette, gag reel, and even Katherine Heigl's audition tape that were omitted. All extras are in standard definition 480i/MPEG-2, with options for English or Spanish subtitles, maintaining the original presentation quality. The disc notably features a highly entertaining audio commentary by director Judd Apatow with stars Seth Rogen and Bill Hader, providing non-stop laughter and unfiltered, politically incorrect banter that surprisingly avoided heavy editing from Universal's legal department. Additionally, the extras offer a mix of humor and insight across various featurettes like the pseudo-documentary "Finding Ben Stone," showcasing a fictional casting backstory for Rogen with appearances by several high-profile actors. Despite some featurettes overstaying their welcome or being deemed unnecessary, the cohesive collection provides a substantial behind-the-scenes look at the film’s creation, alongside deleted scenes that offer interesting, though rightfully cut, content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: A screen-specific discussion with director Judd Apatow and stars Seth Rogen and Bill Hader.
• Featurette: Finding Ben Stone: A pseudo-documentary on the fictional casting of Ben Stone, featuring appearances by known actors.
• Featurette: Directing the Director: A mockumentary about a fictitious situation where Universal sought to replace Apatow with another director.
• Featurette: Gummy: The 6th Roommate: Fictional story about a character who was supposedly cut from the film.
• Featurette: Rollercoaster Doc: Behind-the-scenes look at the opening credit sequence shots of the cast on a roller coaster.
• Featurette: Loudon Wainwright III Scoring Sessions: Features the musician recording the film's score, with performance excerpts.
• Video Diaries/Kuni Files: Apatow's end-of-day shooting comments, plus Ken Jeong's (Dr. Kuni) diary vignettes.
• Deleted/Extended Scenes: A collection of deleted and extended scenes providing additional content and laughs.
• Topless Scene: Web Design Company: An alternate scene included for a PG-13 rating.
• Gag Reels: Various outtakes and improvised scenes, including alternate topless scenes and extended raw footage.
• Line-O-Rama/Bread-O-Rama: A montage of cut lines and a unique feature involving Martin Starr.
• Audition Reel: Katherine Heigl's original audition tape, featuring dialogue with Seth Rogen.

Judd Apatow’s "Knocked Up" stands as a testament to his prowess in crafting movies that blend crude humor with relatable life experiences, resulting in a film that surpasses its sitcom-esque premise to offer a genuinely entertaining and introspective look at unplanned pregnancy. The movie revolves around the unlikely encounter between Ben Stone, portrayed as an aimless, irresponsible slacker, and Alison Scott, a career-driven woman who finds herself facing an unexpected pregnancy. This narrative foregrounds a familiar trajectory in cinema wherein flawed men find redemption and purpose through the influence of grounded, ambitious women. Despite the predictability of the trope, Apatow manages to infuse the film with originality and authenticity, primarily through sharp dialogue and robust character development.

The casting plays a pivotal role in the movie's success, with Seth Rogen’s Ben Stone providing a perfect foil to Katherine Heigl’s Alison Scott. Their dynamic showcases a raw and unfiltered exploration of the complexities surrounding unexpected parental responsibilities, set against a backdrop of modern anxieties and societal expectations. While the film has drawn criticism for its arguably simplistic portrayal of women and their desires, it is the chemistry between Heigl and Rogen, along with Apatow's signature mix of raunchy humor and emotional depth, that anchors the narrative. The movie deftly navigates between moments of humor and seriousness, avoiding a descent into vulgarity, thanks in part to its focus on character-driven storytelling.

"Knocked Up" does more than just entertain; it offers a reflective lens on the process of maturing and assuming responsibility in less-than-ideal circumstances. Despite leaning on well-worn plot devices and facing critiques over its gender representations, the film distinguishes itself through its commitment to exploring real issues with honesty, humor, and a touch of vulgarity. Apatow’s knack for rejuvenating clichéd themes with vibrant dialogues and relatable character arcs manifests in a movie that is not only a sleeper hit but also an engaging narrative that resonates with audiences looking for comedy with substance.

"Knocked Up" remains an emblematic sensation well into its Blu-ray incarnation, capturing the essence of Judd Apatow's unique humor and Seth Rogen's unmistakable comedic presence. Despite the movie's polarizing nature, its charm is undeniable, particularly for enthusiasts of Apatow's filmography or Rogen's distinctive style. The Blu-ray edition notably elevates the viewing experience, with a video quality that holds its own against prior releases and an audio upgrade to DTS-MA, enhancing the auditory experience significantly. Moreover, this version includes an expanded array of extras, though some may argue their relevance varies, providing a comprehensive package for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

Where the Blu-ray truly shines is in its adept balance between high-definition presentation and additional content. While the inclusion of numerous extras may feel excessive to some, it's an addition that reflects a dedication to delivering a product that goes beyond mere film watching. The commitment to superior technical specifications, such as the DTS-MA audio, not only enriches the comedic impact of "Knocked Up" but also demonstrates an understanding of what fans appreciate in a home cinema experience.

In conclusion, "Knocked Up" on Blu-ray offers a definitive viewing experience that both respects the original film’s legacy and embraces the advantages of modern home entertainment technology. Its combination of top-tier video and audio quality, together with an extensive compilation of extras—whether deemed necessary or not—positions this release as a standout choice for aficionados of comedy. Grabbing some popcorn and diving into this Blu-ray is more than just movie night; it's an engaging exploration into what makes "Knocked Up" enduringly relatable and amusing.