2000s Films That Broke Our Funny Bones!
Knocked Up
"Knocked Up (2007) was Judd Apatow's follow-up to The 40-Year-Old Virgin and one of the most honest, hilarious looks at unplanned pregnancy ever put on screen. Seth Rogen plays Ben Stone, a slacker who lives with his stoner roommates and spends his days dreaming about starting a celebrity website. Katherine Heigl is Alison Scott, a driven entertainment reporter who has a one-night stand with Ben – only to discover eight weeks later she's pregnant. The film follows their reluctant decision to try to make it work, filled with brutally funny moments: Ben's disastrous attempt to tell his friends, the 'You look like Gabe Ruth' exchange, the endless pregnancy fears, and the hospital meltdown. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann as the bickering married couple provide the perfect contrast of adult responsibility vs. lingering immaturity. It was raunchy, heartfelt, and surprisingly mature—proving 2000s comedies could be crude and emotionally honest at the same time."
Knocked Up was a raunchy, heartfelt look at accidental adulthood... but next comes a film that took high-school stereotypes and turned them into the most quotable raunchy riot ever made.
Superbad
"Superbad (2007) defined a generation of high schoolers with its quest for booze, girls, and the ultimate pre-graduation party. Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the story follows inseparable best friends Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) as they navigate their final days of high school. The film’s secret weapon was McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the fake-ID-toting nerd who ends up on a wild ride with two incompetent cops played by Rogen and Bill Hader. From the 'period blood' dance floor incident to the obsessive drawings and the heartfelt 'I love you' scene at the end, it captured the anxiety of male friendship and the desperate desire to fit in. It wasn't just about the crude jokes; it was about the fear of growing apart from your best friend while trying to get a bottle of vodka."
Superbad gave us McLovin and the ultimate quest for alcohol... but hold on, the next film traded high school hallways for the high-stakes world of competitive news reporting and "glass cases of emotion."