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Knocked Up

(2007, Rated R, Comedy, Starring Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Raunchy but tender comedy about sex & parenthood.

updated 10.15.08

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Yes, there's unprotected sex and rampant drug use, but the consequences of both are made very apparent. Ben and Alison not only decide to have their baby but also to really get to know each other for the child's sake.
  • Violence :

    Some pushing and shoving.
  • Sex :

    Fairly graphic sex scenes -- not in terms of nudity (although Rogen's bare butt is visible), but in the positions and conversation depicted. Everyone discusses sex, whether it's a married couple casually discussing whether to have it or a group of guys debating whether Ben's gonna get some, etc. There's also a realistic representation of pregnancy that includes a woman's hormonal shifts and sexual needs. At the end, there's an almost documentary-style childbirth scene. There's even movie-within-a-movie nudity (Ben's job is to record whenever an actress gets naked on screen). A couple of fairly brief topless scenes (including one graphic-but-funny lap-dance sequence).
  • Language:

    Lots and lots of cursing -- think Tarantino levels but in a funnier context: F-bombs galore (plus all the other "standards"); the "c" word; various euphemisms for sex and genitalia; colorful insults.
  • Consumerism:

    E! Entertainment Television, Ryan Seacrest, Spider-Man 3.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Ubiquitous marijuana use and pot paraphernalia among Ben and his friends. Ben and Pete do mushrooms and hallucinate. Alison and Ben get incredibly drunk before their one-night stand. Clubgoers are shown drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Knocked Up

Parents need to know that, like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, this comedy earns its R rating with drug use, strong language (it's constant, particularly "f--k"), nudity, and nonstop explicit conversations about sex. Naturally, most teenagers will want to see it, especially if they saw Virgin. But be advised -- the main character and his roommates spend nearly all of their time high on marijuana, and the physiological aspects of pregnancy -- from conception to crowning -- are front and center. (On the bright side, after watching all of that, it's a good bet that teens will be much less likely to risk having unprotected sex and may even appreciate what their mothers went through to give birth...)

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the consequences of having sex -- including pregnancy and parenthood. How do movies and TV shows usually depict unplanned pregnancy? How is this movie different? Does the fact that it's a comedy make the issues seem less serious? Do you think Alison and Ben made the right decisions? Why or why not? Families can also discuss the "return" of the R-rated comedy. Do the raunchy bits make movies like this funnier, or do they go overboard?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer
    Age 12
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

      • My highlights are:
      • Positive messages
      • Good role models

      this movie was halarious....i think that young children should wathch this to learn about sex....it is a great example.

    • Adult Reviewer
      Lives in Michigan
      I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
      My concerns are:
      • Inappropriate sexual content
      • Inappropriate language
      • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
      • Negative message
      • Negative role models

      Depends

      Honestly, when it comes to this movie I'd say it depends on your kid. If they're more mature, then I'd say this movie is a 14+. If they're not, then I'd say 16+.

    • Teen Reviewer
      Age 17
      Lives in South Carolina
      I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 0.0
      My concerns are:
      • Inappropriate sexual content

      e.g. You should think twice before going with a tween!

      i liked this movie

    • Teen Reviewer
      Age 15
      Lives in Minnesota
      I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
      My concerns are:
      • Inappropriate sexual content
      • Inappropriate language
      • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

      AWSOME

      This movie is really good and funny

    • Teen Reviewer
      Age 16
      Lives in Washington
      I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0

      Raunchy movie with heart of gold.

      This movie is very good and very funny.Despite The raunchy sexual content the story actually has heart and is really sweet when it comes down to it.It should be fine for any teen older than 15.

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