"Knocked Up" Spin-Off Coming Soon

When Knocked Up came out in theaters, it changed my life. Forever I would hear 'you look like the guy from Knocked Up'. Thanks? I think. That movie starred Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl in one of the most successful comedies ever. Writer/director Judd Apatow cast Leslie Mann (his real life wife), as Heigl's sister. And Paul Rudd played Mann's husband in the film.

Well, much like Russell Brand got a spin-off from Forgetting Sarah Marshall to Get Him To The Greek... so too do Mann and Rudd. Apatow is in the process of writing the film and I'm sure it will be released late this year or early next.

I really REALLY liked Rudd's character in the film. He's this really down to earth, doesn't get upset about much, kind of guy. This is great contrast to Mann's character in the film. I really like Leslie Mann, I think she is so versatile, so funny, she can do no wrong in my eyes (check out 17 Again, she's beautiful). So I'm totally ok with this spin-off!

Really the only thing left to discover is whether Rogan will reprise his role from Knocked Up to this spin-off. We all know Heigl will not be welcome anywhere near the movie! She's such a moron... she accused Apatow of making the film appear sexist towards women instead of thanking him for everything she has. Instead we get Oscar worthy performances in 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth, Killers and Life As We Know It. The woman should just shut up and go away!

On a lighter note... I give you... my twin

Tony: 17 Again DVD review

17 Again is the best movie you probably didn't see this year. Yes, I'm serious and no, I'm not being sarcastic. The movie stars Matthew Perry as a 30 something who's life isn't where he imagined it would be when he was a teenager. Perry plays Mike O'Donnell who's in the middle of a divorce. Perry's wife is played by the always funny, Leslie Mann. With a twist of fate kind of moment, Perry is transformed into his teenage self, played by Zac Efron. From here craziness ensues!

When the transformation occurs, Efron stays with his childhood friend, who is now an adult. The friend is played by Thomas Lennon, who is Lt. Jim Dangle on "Reno 911!". Lennon ads some great comic relief with his nerdy obsessions with such things as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Efron has to help his son overcome being shy, his daughter escape a horrible boyfriend and somehow earn back his wife's love.

The children in the movie are just interesting enough for you to care what happens to them. And Mann plays the neglected wife to the point where we care about her, but we don't think she's playing the victim. She knows her self-worth and is leaving her husband because that's what's best for her. When she decides to date other people, Efron is at her house before she leaves. It is pretty funny how he gets jealous of her date.

I guess what makes this movie so good, and so different, is that it doesn't follow your standard 'transformation' movie. There are movies where people switch bodies, i.e. Freaky Friday. But this movie is closest to Big, only in reverse. In Big, Tom Hanks' teenage mind is stuck in an adult body. In 17 Again, Perry's adult mind is stuck in Efron's teenage body.

Is it the best 'transformation' movie ever? No, I think that goes to Big. Is it the best Perry, Efron or Mann film to date? Probably not. But it was entertaining and it was a very pleasant surprise. I didn't expect anything and got a whole lot. I think you should all head down to your local video store and check it out. By the way, did we just create an entire new genre of film? 'Transformation' movies... Matt, we should trademark that!