Genre of the Month: Geek Chic

08 September 2008

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The Geek Chic movies really were 2007's film genre of the year with the likes of Knocked Up and Superbad doing well both critically and commercially.

Stars like Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller used to be the faces of comedy on the big screen and then Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell were the toast of tinsel town.

But now regular band of buddies Johan Hill, Seth Rogen Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are gate-crashing the party and there is just one man to thank for that, Judd Apatow.

It all started back in 2004 and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, produced by Apatow and starring Will Ferrell. But despite Anchorman's success it was perhaps 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin that really kicked the Geek Chic genre into life.

The 40 year Old Virgin brought together Apatow, who directed, produced and penned the script, with Seth Rogen, who produced, and Steve Carell who starred as Andy Stitzer.

40-year-old Andy Stitzer (Steve Carrell) has done quite a few things in his life. He's got a cushy job stamping invoices at an electronics superstore, a nice apartment with a proud collection of action figures and comic books, good friends, a nice attitude.

But there's just one little thing he hasn't quite gotten around to doing yet, something most people have done by his age. Done a lot. Andy's never, ever, ever had sex, not even by accident.

So is that such a big deal? Well, for Andy's buds at the store, it sure is. Although they think he's a bit of an oddball, there's certainly a planetful of stranger (and homelier) guys who've at least had one go at having a go. They consider it their duty to help Andy out of his dire situation and go to great lengths to help him.

The film was the surprise hit of the year grossing over $177 million at the global box office, taking just over $109 million in the U.S. alone. The film propelled both Carell and Apatow into the spotlight.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, starring Will Ferrell, followed and Blades of Glory. However it was 2007 that Geek Chic really showed it's popularity amongst movie goers and the critics.

Knocked Up took summer cinema by storm as Apatow and Rogan reunited: Apatow once again directing, writing and producing as Rogen produced and starred in the film as Ben Stone.

Alison(Heigl) has everything going for her after being promoted to in front of camera instead of behind at E! She goes out to celebrate with her older sister Debbie (Mann)

Not long into their celebration Debbie is called home to see to her children but Alison stays behind with Ben, a guy she met at the bar earlier that night. As the night continues the pair get more and more drunk and they end up back as Alison’s

But when morning breaks Alison discovers that Ben is an overgrown child with no money and no job. After breakfast they politely go their separate ways.

Until two months later after vomiting during an interview Alison discovers that the unthinkable has happened.

The film was a global critical and commercial success grossing over $218 million, not bad having been made on a budget of $30 million.

Unlike Evan Almighty, which was the most expensive comedy ever made with a $175 million budget, Apatow and co have proved that a big budget is not always the best way to get a laugh.

Rogen and Apatow were on a roll and teamed up again for Superbad both producing and Rogen, with the help of Evan Goldberg, penning the script. As with Knocked Up, Superbad enjoyed similar critical and box office success grossing over $169 million worldwide.

It seems that their key to success lies in their everyday storylines of unexpected pregnancy and wanting to get laid before leaving high school, accompanied by some witty dialogue that you will be quoting the second the credits role, that makes these movies a hit.

September sees a new movie in this genre roll into town as Seth Rogen stars in Pineapple Express, which reunite him with producer this time around Judd Apatow.

Dale Denton (Rogen), a process server with a weed fixation, witnesses a murder and turns to his dealer, Saul (James Franco), for support.

The murderer is actually Saul's main drug supplier, and because of Saul's access to some extremely rare high-grade pot (called Pineapple Express) the two are quickly tracked down and put on the run.

Like all Apatow/Rogen vehicles, the movie deals with the theme of men succumbing to adulthood and all the adjustments they are forced to make in the process.

Next year sees Judd Apatow and co team up once again for new picture Funny People, which will also star Adam Sandler as a stand up comedian alongside Seth Rogen.

Long live Geek Chic!

Pineapple Express rolls into cinemas 12th September

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

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