Rating: 3.5 Pulses

Rated R

About two-thirds of the way through Judd Apatow’s second feature, the uproarious, endearing Knocked Up, the appropriately named Ben Stone (Rogen) begs for parental advice from his father, who tells his pothead son, “I’ve been divorced three times. Why are you asking me?”

Their exchange is raw and honest. As he demonstrated in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Apatow is able to mix earnestness with raucous obscenity. Knocked Up again assimilates these two elements into a heartfelt and hysterical package.

The story begins with up-and-coming entertainment reporter Alison (Heigl) meeting unkempt slacker Ben. Drinks and unprotected sex ensue. Two months later, the two decide to forge ahead with a baby, despite the wishes of friends and family.

One of those voices of initial dissension is Alison’s critical sister Debbie (Mann), who is married to the emotionally aloof Pete. Their rocky union serves as a barometer for Ben and Alison’s prospects of parental bliss.

Undeniably, Knocked Up owes a debt to Woody Allen, Paul Mazursky, James L. Brooks et. al., and their abilities to wring laughs out of love and heartache.

The sublime charge from Knocked Up comes not from its hilariously profane, but forgettable, dialogue, but the time (the film clocks in at 129 minutes) and attention given to the interlocking stories.

Apatow clearly enjoys hanging with his old Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared buddies in Ben’s household, to provide both comic relief and a reminder of Ben’s stunted maturity. Heigl provides compassion and authenticity to her character. And when apart from one another, Pete and Debbie each divulge frank concerns about their listless marriage.

Still, it’s a comedy first and foremost. If you ever wondered how pink-eye is contracted through fecal matter, this is your movie.

Knocked Up is pregnant (I couldn’t resist) with both raunchy humor and guileless commentary on ethics.