Strengths? Emotional drive behind good, well-rounded characters that are played by great comedic actors. Rogen, Heigl, Paul Rudd, and Leslie Mann (doing more than fine with possibly the meatiest role she's been given so far, one much more worthy of her than the puking broad in "Virgin") helm a hilarious leading cast as a goal-driven young woman (Heigl), a dumbass stoner with no life (Rogen), an ornery older sister to the sister-sister pair (Mann) and her bitch husband (Rudd).

These are roles that we've seen reduced to  one-dimensional crap over and over, but not when this team is behind them. Exploring the inner workings of what makes these people move forward and hold themselves back, the audience is brought into the actual story enough to give a shit about if they're having a wacky argument, doing psychedelics, and whatever other thing we've seen characters do before in lesser romantic comedies.

The guys' trip to Vegas, which ends up hilarious without them killing a hooker or getting chased by the mafia or whatever, is one of the many highlights of this one, along with Mann's fiercely verbal encounter with a Hollywood door man. This is the mere story of two young people who drunkenly concieve a baby and try to make it work between them for the child's sake -- not too far-fetched, no even as much as a 40-year-old virgin, and yet it has belly laughs.

Gee, why? Maybe it's because we really don't need to see a phucking rodent bump into a wall over and over or a guy get his head peed on or drink sperm-in-a-beer to laugh. Maybe it's because people aren't as stupid as most romantic comedies wish they were. Maybe a relatable human concept can work, even without any silly looking aliens that are thrown in for the hell of "high concept."

This flick works, and manages to rise above its own crap in the end.

 

There is crap though. Oh yes, there is crap. Sadly, we've already seen people imitate Arnold Schwarzennegar (who the hell can spell it, whatever). We've already seen them imitate Chewbacca. We've already seen them smoke pot and go "I am sooo hiiigh." It's been done, and this one doesn't quite take it to the next level. Rogen's stoner friends, while with occasional moments, many of which may have looked better on paper, essentially blow. They're there to be the "funny guys," the comic relief in a movie that's already a comedy, and end up making us wish they'd go back to the principles instead of going "Oh, ha ha, look, it's that guy again! He's funny! He's funny! Is he high? I'll bet he's high, because he smokes pot! That's too damn funny!"

 

In closing, let's just say it doesn't quite end up being "Virgin", but it's obvious the same creative and comedic minds brought it to us, which is a relief when the Farrelly Brothers haven't made a decent flick since before the war on terror.

 

(three bongs)