Battle of the Sexist

Knocked Up
Directed by Judd Apatow
Seth Rogan, Katherine Heigl
Rated R for “crowning”

The definitive difference between men and women will never be given. Outside of (of course) the physical attributes neither side will openly agree why we are so damn different.

I finally gave up trying to sort it out this weekend. I have Knocked Up to blame for my defeat.

I saw Knocked Up in the summertime like the other blockbuster-dollars worth of people in the theatre. I loved the first time I saw it --- and with most things that I can’t complain about I never reviewed it. What is there to say? It’s good. It’s funny. It’s solid. That is all. Right?

No, apparently not. It’s come to my attention that women don’t like Knocked Up.

Not all women (course not). But within the last week I have been bombarded with female faces, scrunched up in disgust at the very mention of the movie. It started with my girlfriend, she told me she walked out of the theatre when she went to see it. I, being a male, assumed she was in a pissy mood somehow. Why else would she walk out of one of the best movies of the year (on a very short list)? Her reasoning wasn’t that she was easily offended (or she wouldn’t be with me) but that it wasn’t good. Hmmmmm…

I shared this info with a co-worker of mine. We frequently discuss pop culture on the job; it makes the slow days go faster and the process breezy. My co-worker revealed that he too knew a female acquaintance who didn’t like the movie.

Well, my theory is two times is a coincidence, three times is a trend. No sooner had I started thinking a little too much on this when I remembered that the King of “Righteous Indignation” hadn’t written a similar blog about this month’s prior:



So, now not only are feminists criticizing the movie --- but Katherine Heigl, the film’s star, is uncomfortable with the film?

Now, before I draw my own conclusion I’m gonna take another stab at this “Battle of the Sexes” thing.

I can’t speak for all men, but on the occasion that my male friends have explained to me an argument they have had with a girlfriend/ fuck-buddy/booty call/ wife/ ex-wife/ sister/ mother/senator --- it’s usually because the man’s response is realistic and the female wants an optimistic answer (also known as a lie). Men approach everything with low expectations and pessimism. It’s how we deal with life. Women, from my own personal experience, don’t wan’t the real answer. They want a sugary one. It’s the reason guys like War movies and women like Pop Music.

I know this might piss some people off. But think of it in these terms: Women want hope. Men? Want to be left alone.

And there is why Knocked Up is apparently a problem for the Double-Xers. Knocked Up is honest --- Too honest. Admittedly, it’s more concerned with the Male side of pregnancy -- but not by much --- and how often do we get, exclusively, just the female side of pregnancy in a film. It just might be too realistic for some women. Seth Rogan isn’t Prince Charming, people have babies by accident, people have drunken unprotected sex, woman do believe they have the right to say things even if they know they are wrong, and, yes, guys do need to be alone or with their friends. Truth be told.

And just like Katherine Heigl, I think it’s male frankness will make women uncomfortable at times. To which my male brain says, “This is good.”

Knocked Up is a rarity. It’s a coming-of-age film that dares to be too honest. It feels real and never Hollywood. I’d clump it together with Dazed and Confused, Clerks, and Almost Famous. Those movies were about losing naiveté. Moving into another period in your life. And most times that transition is rough. Sometimes you can’t decide when you make that transition and, Man or Woman, we all fool ourselves into thinking we can…