The rise of the R-rated comedy

‘Knocked Up’

When it comes to melding the intelligent and the grotesque, nobody does it better than Judd Apatow and his crew. Apatow has produced a steady stream of R-rated hit comedies in recent years, including “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” in 2005, “Knocked Up” (pictured) and “Superbad” in 2007 and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in 2008. Apatow films tend to feature shlubby men and the successful women who love them. And plenty of marijuana.  (Suzanne Hanover / Associated Press)