What To Expect When You're Expecting Movie Review
Rebeca Surber Swank
May 19th, 2012
Perhaps being in the life stage where the majority of my friends have had babies or are about to have babies, combined with the constant questioning from relatives interested in knowing when my adorable hubby and I will procreate, helped WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING resonate deep within me. Not in a way that we’re going to start shopping for minivans but in a way that I felt emotionally attached to this picture. Each of the character’s storylines, though varied within the constant theme of pregnancy, hit home in a way that was unexpected.
That emotional connection aside, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING is very predictable and within the first ten minutes you could probably guess how the film will turn out. As most romantic-comedies have that predictability factor, they are not as blatant with their story formula. Predictable or not, I enjoyed the ride, forgiving the problems that keep this film in the good, not great category. Based on the pregnancy guidebook of the same name, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING revolves around four couples and their emotional struggle with pregnancy and life issues. Basically this is the baby bumps and pregnancy jokes version of VALENTINE’S DAY, NEW YEAR’s EVE, or HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU. Following celebrity fitness instructor Jules (Cameron Diaz), her famous TV ballroom dancing partner Evan (Glee’s Matthew Morrison); Holly (Jennifer Lopez) and Alex (Rodrigo Santoro) looking into adoption; young love and romance between Rosie (Anna Kendrick) and Marco (Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford); and Gary (BRIDESMAIDS Ben Falcone) and Wendy (Elizabeth Banks) a couple desperate to conceive – we are treated to a variety of storylines and issues resulting from the joys of planning a family.
With a wide-range of actors mixed into this film there are moments that separate the talented performers from those with lack-luster skills. The two that shine the brightest in my book are Elizabeth Banks and Ben Falcone. Their chemistry as a loving, supportive couple was a real treat to watch. Banks always delivers, but in this film she took it up a notch, which made her stand out over her female co-stars. Falcone is starting to be one of my favorite actors being able to produce well timed comedic moments to heart-wrenching emotional scenes that rivaled the feeling I had when watching the birth scene in SHE’S HAVING A BABY. I would not have been disappointed if the filmmakers decided to give them more screen time.
Speaking of wishing they had more screen-time, the other standout in this film would be the “Dude’s Group”. With rules similar to FIGHT CLUB (One: you don’t talk about what happens at Dude’s Group and Two: you do not judge), this rag-tag bunch of fathers with children ranging in ages gets together at the park each Saturday. Comprised of great comedians (Chris Rock, Thomas Lennon, Rob Huebel and Amir Talai) the Dude’s Group and their youngsters make up of some of the best laugh out loud moments.
The filmmakers did an excellent job of taking me on an emotional rollercoaster ride throughout the picture. I was shocked at how many times I found myself crying one minute then laughing hysterically the next. Despite its flaws, this film was entertaining and kept me glued to the screen. I found it to be heartwarming, charming and fun.
[fbcomments]
