Knocked Up

Tuesday evening, Pat and I viewed the movie “Knocked Up.” The movie is causing a stir since it is doing better than expected at the box office. It’s an R rated comedy that revolves a one night sexual experience (hooking up) between a successful young woman and a irresponsible young man with an unexpected pregnancy as a result. Pat and I were the oldest people at the movie and we were disappointed the movie theatre didn’t check our ID’s to see if we were 17. I want to say at the beginning we went to the movie to see what the buzz was all about and why so many young people (most of the audience was college age) are going to see “Knocked Up.” That’s right, it was about studying culture in order to better communicate the Gospel (think Mars Hill) to young people. It’s rated R for good reason, three to be exact- recreational drug use, profanity (constant use of the F word), and sex, both nudity and sexual simulation. It amazing how comedy has changed from the days of Red Skelton and Bill Cosby. Now it has to be crude and gross. So here’s the cultural trends you see- lack of the sacredness of sex, the use of “liquid courage,” alcohol, that leads to hooking up with someone you would never choose as a marriage partner, language that demeans people, and drug use that makes it look like fun. But here’s the kicker, and it’s a great one, the point of the story is being responsible as a father and mother for a baby. The mom and dad could easily had an abortion, but don’t. In fact the ultrasound pictures are awesome and would make a pregnant person think twice about having an abortion. It’s also a story about choices that result in negative consequences and how the dad has to grow up. Which he does! The problem is there is so much junk, I can’t recommend you see the movie. For the typical movie going crowd that would think nothing of going to an R rated movie, the movie makes a great point. My question is, could this movie be made by a team of Jesus followers that cut out the crude and crud, that would deliver the same punch line? Would people watch it or would it be too tame? We need to ask these questions so we can be an influence for His Kingdom. The Kingdom needs movie actors, producers, and writers. Film today carry cultures’ stories. As His followers we need to find ways to communicate. Film can be a way.
These are the days my friend.
Jim “Train”