Pretty women and ugly men

The premise of the new comedy “Knocked Up” is succinctly summarized on its poster: “What if this guy got you pregnant?”

Underneath that tag line is a huge photograph of the movie’s star, Seth Rogen.

He’s no Brad Pitt.

He’s not even an Adrien Brody.

His round face is topped with a mass of curly brown hair. He hasn’t shaved in about a week — a little too long for sexy stubble a la Hugh Laurie on “House.” From the looks of him, he’s spent that week in front of the TV eating potato chips. And he’s wearing the kind of rugby shirt you find on a high-schooler; perhaps he’s had it since then.

All in all, he looks like he works at your local video store — assuming he even has a job. Which, it turns out, he doesn’t.

Alison (played by “Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Heigl) displays about that much enthusiasm for Ben (Mr. Rogen’s character) when she wakes up next to him one morning. The two drunkenly hooked up the night before. Alison was celebrating her promotion to on-air personality at E! — she’s an extremely attractive blond. She’s rather disgusted by the man-child she can’t remember sleeping with and soon blows him off.

She calls him a couple months later when she realizes she’s pregnant.

Alison decides to have the baby and get to know the father better. And, to everyone’s surprise, she starts to fall for him.

Some reviewers — including our own Christian Toto — don’t find this modern-day Beauty and the Beast story completely believable. Sure, Ben is a sweet guy and he admirably takes responsibility for his unborn baby. But Alison is Hollywood good-looking — couldn’t she do much better?

Perhaps it takes a female critic to point out that while “Knocked Up” may be fantasy for many men — minus the unplanned pregnancy — it’s reality for many women.

Take a story published last week in the Sun, a British tabloid, headlined, “We only date ugly men.” The paper found some beautiful women — one a glamour model — who shun fellow hotties, whom these ladies find “boring” and “ordinary,” in favor of men euphemistically called “interesting” looking.

“Ugly men try harder. They care more about you and treat you like a princess,” said one.

“I like a man who looks different — intriguing, with something to offer on the inside,” offered another.

The implication, of course, is that unattractive guys are nicer — they have to be.

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