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Gender-Reversing Judd Apatow's Knocked Up

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (46)



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A couple of the other movie sites, Cinematical and Screenrant in particular, were tossing around fun ideas for a female kick-ass version of The Expendables today, an idea certainly worth discussing. But it not just action movies where female actresses are often overlooked. The precipitous rise of the man-love romantic comedy triggered by Old School and the Apatow revolution, has also demonstrated a lack of decent female-centric comedies. Female actresses are too often cast as the comedic foil, and with few exceptions, rarely the main comedic draw. It’s too bad, too, because with the right ladies, there’s a lot of potential for a seriously funny comedy. And with all due respect to the (sometimes) comedic talents of Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen, there are other faces that I’d prefer to see on the big screen.

So, what if, say, the $150 million ensemble comedy Knocked Up were to be rewritten where, instead of focusing on the guy and his friends, the point of view was reversed, and it instead centered upon the pregnant woman and her friends. There’s certainly something to be said about pregnancy from a man’s point of view (and I found myself identifying a little too often with Knocked Up), but there’s a lot of really gross (and potentially very funny) pregnancy humor that only a woman could successfully exploit. And, for God’s sake, why can’t it be the women sitting around, smoking bongs, and watching television while the upright, career-oriented leading man obsessed about his career?

Just a thought. But if I were to cast the Reverse Knocked Up, I think it’d look something like this:

Jonah Hill —> Ellie Kemper

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Martin Starr —> Mindy Kaling

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Paul Rudd —> Kristen Wiig

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Jason Segel —> Emma Stone

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Seth Rogen —> Elizabeth Banks

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Jay Baruchel —> Kristen Schaal

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Harold Ramis —> Jane Lynch

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Comments

The Baruchel/Schaal switch is inspired.

Posted by: admin at August 5, 2010 3:38 PM

Okay, weird thing here: All the woman on this list are either as funny or funnier than their male counterparts on this list, yet the men are the ones who are the most famous and well-known. What the fucking fuck?

Posted by: Jeremy Feist at August 5, 2010 3:42 PM

Life Jeremy. That's life.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 5, 2010 3:44 PM

I would be at the theater opening night for this cast in anything.

Posted by: DemonWaterPolo at August 5, 2010 3:49 PM

Sub Felecia Day for Mindy Kaling and then I'm sold.

Sorry but she is just too good at being annoying in the Office.

And I could stand to see less of Wiig.

Posted by: John W at August 5, 2010 3:49 PM

But Wiig is essential for the crossover since she actually was in Knocked Up. And hilarious.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 5, 2010 3:59 PM

Anyone else noticing how most of the guys being replaced are schlubby and fairly unattractive, while nearly 100% of the women are incredibly hot? There aren't normal looking women who are allowed to be funny in the movies?

Posted by: KatSings at August 5, 2010 3:59 PM

I want to be Mindy Kaling's BFF because she is everything I ever wanted to be. I LOVE that chick and she needs to do more stuff.

Posted by: figgy at August 5, 2010 4:00 PM

But....wait......Isee what you did, you just wanna watch that movie without Heigl in it. You hater!

Posted by: Jay at August 5, 2010 4:00 PM

Also, KatSings has a very good point. The whole thing of the guys in those movies is that they're schlubs that no real woman would seriously consider. If you want a TRUE reversal you can't just have incredibly beautiful women being the schlubby friends.

Posted by: figgy at August 5, 2010 4:02 PM

But who replaces the Rainbow Killer and who gets to be married to Ms Wiig?

Also all this is only allowed if Alan Tudyck gets to come back being equally hilariously patronising to the male lead.


Posted by: PyD at August 5, 2010 4:03 PM

For example, take out Emma Stone and substitute for the much funnier Sara Ramirez and then we can talk.

Posted by: figgy at August 5, 2010 4:04 PM

Alan Tudyk, yes!!

Posted by: Stella at August 5, 2010 4:07 PM

I'd watch it. But who would you cast as Heigl, Mann, and Charlene Yi?

Posted by: Kevin Longrie at August 5, 2010 4:10 PM

Also

looking at that Fexpendables line up

fuck yes I'd watch that, and any chance we could get Bigelow to direct?

Posted by: PyD at August 5, 2010 4:10 PM

Not that Sara Ramirez isn't gorgeous, but she's infinitely funnier and would be far more believable in the role of the loser best friend.

Posted by: figgy at August 5, 2010 4:11 PM

For Charlene Yi

I see only one choice

Danny Pudi

Posted by: PyD at August 5, 2010 4:12 PM

"Whoops, that's not your pussy. That's your asshole."

Nuf said.

Posted by: admin at August 5, 2010 4:17 PM

Also
with much respect to Ms Lynch and her bringing of the funny
she's not old enough for the part - Ramis is 16 years older

So I put it to the room

Kathy motherfuckin Bates

Posted by: PyD at August 5, 2010 4:17 PM

I'd say make Mindy Kaling look schlubby and be the Seth Rogen character, and then cast...oh some pretty but totally bland guy to be Heigl. Say, Josh Duhamel or Bradley Cooper or something.

Posted by: figgy at August 5, 2010 4:18 PM

OMG JONAH HILL PUT DOWN THE FORK!!

Also, I don't get Kristen Schaal. I've seen her on few things and I just...she's not very funny and sort of annoying

Posted by: Nadine at August 5, 2010 4:18 PM

Yes please. I'll take two. Though, I really wish that it didn't have to be a "chick version", just you know, a hilarious movie starring funny men and women that isn't skewed more toward one sex or the other. (I also wish for world peace and money trees)

But really, I don't get the hoopla over Emma Stone. Throw in Lizzy Caplan, Felicia Day, Aisha Tyler, Alia Shawkat, or Portia De Rossi instead. Or anyone else really.

Posted by: jM at August 5, 2010 4:20 PM

I'm gonna have to agree with Figgy on this one. These ladies are mostly very attractive and far better looking than the males they are replacing. Unfortunately there aren't many woman in Hollywood that would fall into the unnattractive pile because they just don't get hired. Even "ugly" girls are played by attractive ones.

Posted by: griffimx at August 5, 2010 4:23 PM

Portia de Rossi can play the ludicrously uptight obgyn

I like the idea of Alia Shawkat for Jonah Hill

Posted by: PyD at August 5, 2010 4:26 PM

There aren't normal looking women who are allowed to be funny in the movies?

No.

Posted by: twig at August 5, 2010 4:35 PM

Word, twig.

Posted by: Dorothy Snarker at August 5, 2010 4:40 PM

Yeah...I have a feeling that Mindy Kaling, for one, would have never been on tv if not for the fact that she's a brilliant writer first.

Posted by: figgy at August 5, 2010 4:49 PM

Is it really necessary to repeat 'female actresses' so many times?
Yeah, we get the heavy hand of gendered implications.

Posted by: Megan at August 5, 2010 6:04 PM

Is it really necessary to repeat 'female actresses' so many times?
Yeah, we get the heavy hand of gendered implications.

Oh. And here I thought it was just sloppy writing.

Around here I'm never sure when I'm allowed to get all grammar-snickety "IT! IT is confusing! Say your goddamn pronouns!" and when I'm supposed to assume an incredibly subtle piece of social commentary is happening.

Anyway, regarding the point at hand, most of my "female actress" friends don't blink at being called, simply, "actors." Like "doctors." Or "authors."

Posted by: Salieri2 at August 5, 2010 6:44 PM

I have nothing against Mindy Kaling's looks I just think she's annoying same as Jonah Hill or Russell Brand.

And as far as Kristen Wiig I think she's hot but I'm just sick of seeing her, same as Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Luke & Owen Wilson, Michale Cera, Adam Sandler, etc. It's bad enough she's in every SNL sketch playing the same character over and over.

Posted by: John W at August 5, 2010 6:57 PM

So what if Knocked Up were to be rewritten where the point of view was reversed, and it instead centered upon the pregnant woman and her friends.

Yah, I think Tina Fey and Amy Poehler already tried - and failed - to pull this off with Baby Mama?

Anyway, if you want to truly reverse this, you need a good looking guy with an average gal.

Hey Paul Rudd and Mindy Kaling worked together in 40 year Old Virgin. I think that matchup works.

Posted by: L.O.V.E. at August 5, 2010 7:22 PM

Jerry Lewis said women aren't funny. I would change that to good looking people aren't funny (except George Clooney.) That's why Friends sucked, The Office is funny, and British comedies are better than most of ours.

Posted by: Jonzo at August 5, 2010 8:39 PM

_____ Sugarmommamatch.C o m ______ hot and sincere people from all parts of the world gather here, for the one common

goal. Search and meet their friends or dream lovers!!! it always worths the efforts to try! life is a journey, no body wants to be

alone! anyway, that's what I heard from a hot cougar from there...

Posted by: ashly at August 5, 2010 9:47 PM

Emma Stone would not belong anywhere near this.

Posted by: Kate at June at August 5, 2010 9:54 PM

Not that Sara Ramirez isn't gorgeous, but she's infinitely funnier and would be far more believable in the role of the loser best friend.

Posted by: figgy at August 5, 2010 4:11 PM

I'm glad you added this, because I would have hated to have to tear you a new... er, one.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at August 5, 2010 10:54 PM

Not to be some misogynistic killjoy - I do want to see a hilarious female ensemble comedy, I do believe it can happen. Because when I think of estrogen-rich comedies that aren't fashion parades, I think of "The Sweetest Thing" and "Spring Breakdown"... There's gotta be better.

What, Janeane Garofalo doesn't do comedy anymore?

Posted by: Leroy Grey at August 5, 2010 11:31 PM

Swap Emma Stone with Ellen Page and you have a deal.

Kristen Wiig, Elizabeth Banks & Mindy Kahling all attend ELizabeth's house party one eve to celebrate a mediocre event, each getting smasharoonied for seperate reasons, Elizabeth & her Boymantoy Alan Tudyk after an argument about wanting to have children, Kristen to combat her fears of ageing alone and single & Mindy, their alternative lesbian roommate (girlfriend to Bank's little live in sister Ellen Page) to have fun while she's stressin over something which alternative lesbians stress about.

The girls end up separated, each going off and the stories of Wiig and Elizbeth are shown, Wiig going off with a stranger, and Banks & Tudyk making upto one another in bed.

Next day, they all complain about feelin awful and hungover, We also see Mindy, who had woken up on the couch, WITH A MAN! without checking the identity of the culprit, she runs off.

Not much is said for a while, until Kristen calls Banksy out for coffee to discuss something important, they both reveal that they've gotten pregnant, one after the other (LIKE

Wiig on the other hand is freaking out because she has the number of the potential father and is reluctant to tell him, and they instead resolve to call him, not mentioning the pregnancy and pitch the idea of a second date.

Meanwhile, Mindy breaks it to Ellen that she is up the spout, Ellen has no idea how to take it, upset about Mindy's one night stand WITH A MAN and worried that, if they did have a child, how their kid would be raised without a father. Enter GAYBESTFRIEND Jason Segal, playing a rather different role for a change, who offers to be unofficial dad for their child (It is later revealed to actually be the father, as Mindy couldn't previously remember who it was who she slept with)

Ellen has trouble accepting all of this of course, hilarity/sympathy ensures

All female characters often hang out a lot, like the men in Knocked up, with appearances from the Segal as 'one of the girls (I feel a drag scene coming along) and overly clingy Tudyk, who begins to freak out as father to be after Lizzy breaks the news.

Kristen has gone on her date, unimpressed by the potential father zac galifankis, and never letting him know he is the father, she cuts all ties with him.

While the idea of an abortion route might be good for pro choice angle, right in the middle of a humourous ladies flick mightn't be the place... iti s certainly contemplated by all the characters, however, the idea is rejected, resolving 'we'll do this TOGETHER'

Wigg starts looking for someone who could adopt her child for her, as she fears becoming a single mother and lacks the confidence that she could provide her child with a fully awesome life, and starts interviewing interested couple candidates. Eventually she comes across Robert Downey Jr, as the dorky, hot art curator and shy guy who genuinely wants a child though he is infertile, but recently broke it off with his wife whom he applied for the adoption interview with. Wiig is infatuated and some dates go on between the two.

In the meantime, Mindy, Jason and Ellen find out that their child is going to be a boy, arguments ensue reguarding whether they'll raise their kid gay, and what if he turns out to be straight? would he love them? Wouldthey accept a straight child? (a funny/serious play on the 'what if our kid is gay' garb from straight couples)

From there we have plot points of

-Shopping for baby clothes montage
-A whole housefull of pregnant ladies all complaining and crying about being fat and ugly and unloveable, with Tudyk, Jason, Downey Jr and Ellen freaking out together and going outside to have 'man time'
- Kristen Schall has a feature role as consulting OBGYN, Jane Lynch is the unorthodox instructor for pregnancy couples classes
-A LOT of bajingo talk!!!

Blah Blah Blah

Complications arise with Banks/Tudyk baby and a cesarian must be performed 9 weeks before the due date of their child. Everyone's in the waiting room together

Baby turns out to be fine, we see a shot of it in an incubator

Montage of Mindy and Wiig waters breaking and being rushed to the hospital, photos and 'home camera' footage of birth scenes and babies growing up and the like, stuff like Tudyk and Banks buying their own house ,Wiig moving in the RDJ and Mindy, Page and jason keeping the once shared apartment

Final scene: 2 years later and everyone is in the park together with their kids, Banks and Tudyk's little girl plays with Wiig and RDJ's little girl, Ellen is now pregnant to Jason with a planned child and they talk about everything.

The menfolk are seen playing with the children, Jason and Mindy's little boy is wearing boys clothes and some sparkly girls shoes with beads.

END

Posted by: Camilla at August 6, 2010 3:14 AM

Cut me off in the middle

Banks and Wiig have coffee and reveal they're both pregnant (LIKEOHMYGOD!), Lizzy freaks out because she knows that Tudyk doesnt want a kid til theyre financially stable..

Meanwhile, Wiig freaks out on her pwn because she has th enumber of her potential baby daddy

Posted by: Camilla at August 6, 2010 3:18 AM

That list lacks Lizzy Caplan.

Posted by: OhHai at August 6, 2010 6:19 AM

Let's have a movie about a summer camp for hot middle aged women who think they might have lesbian tendencies and want to spend their vacation rolling around with other women?

Posted by: grumpiestoldman at August 6, 2010 9:18 AM

LOVE THIS LIST! Brilliant.
Did anyone think "The Sweetest Thing" was funny? Selma Blair is a'ight. Applegate and Diaz didn't disappoint in their cookiness and the sex jokes were pretty dang funny.

Posted by: Marianna at August 6, 2010 4:46 PM

I'd rather see Lizzy Caplan doing Jason Segel's part.
"I'm gonna go make myself a protein shake" (squints)

Posted by: chachachuy at August 7, 2010 2:17 AM

Also, swap Kemper and Kaling's roles and have Charlyne Yi reprise hers.

Posted by: chachachuy at August 7, 2010 2:20 AM

Who would they get for a female Expendables?
Milla Jovovich
Lena Headey
Linda Hamilton
Kyra Gracie
Michele Yeoh
Michele Rodriguez
Cynthia Rothrock
????

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