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By Rich Simon It seems astonishing that even just two or three decades ago, parents not only pretty much knew what was expected of them to turn their offspring into civilized adults, but they could actually count on society to back them up. Even more astounding, kids seemed to understand this, too. Even if they rebelled against, yelled about, or sullenly resented how “unfair” adults were, they seemed to acknowledge adult authority and realize that they would just have to wait until they turned 18 to get for themselves the keys to the kingdom of grown-up independence. | Hollywood and the Unwed Mother - Page 3 |
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Heigl is initially appalled at the prospect of hooking up with Rogen, but then the pregnant couple slowly and hesitantly begins to talk to each other, and to build a relationship. Heigl learns to ask for what she wants and Rogen learns to take her wishes less as assaults on his masculinity than as guidelines on how to conduct a grown-up marriage. With a real child in the offing, even Rogen's guy-pals begin to act like godparents, cleaning themselves up and gaining maturity. The movie is an examination of how, under the influence of a forthcoming baby, all of these dozen or so immature people start thinking like parents, and thus like adults. Despite its vulgarity and raunchiness, Knocked Up is among the more marriage-friendly, family-focused films on the screen in years. It approaches marriage without cynicism, conveying the message that, when facing the responsibilities of parenthood, everyone can grow up enough to live happily ever after. |