What to Expect When You’re Expecting
By Kathy Cano-Murillo
Director: Kirk Jones
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick.
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 110 minutes.
Official synopsis: A look at love through the eyes of five interconnected couples experiencing the thrills and surprises of having a baby, and ultimately coming to understand the universal truth that no matter what you plan for, life doesn’t always deliver what’s expected.
Review: I went with my daughter and we laughed through the whole movie, and even sniffled several times. As a mom who has read the book and listened to all my friends birthing stories – many which were quite varied in experience, I found the movie very entertaining and supportive. And – it was a nice upful change after watching too much baby mama drama on 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom.
Let’s get one thing straight, What To Expect When You’re Expecting is not a serious drama – this is pure chick flick fluff. Think cake batter frozen custard. It’s a tasty guilty pleasure. It’s predictable and everything wraps up nicely for everyone, but that’s how these types of films roll, you know? If it were me, well, I would have added a home birthing scenario, a single mom, a surrogate mom, maybe a teen mom, etc. Perhaps if WTEWYE does well at the box office, they’ll have a sequel and add those elements.
The film shares the baby love from six different women’s perspectives, as well as the daddies. Like the book – and real life – we see how no two are the same. They each have their share of drama in varying degrees and each of the actresses and actors to their part to keep things lively and likeable. My favorite? Elizabeth Banks’ character of Wendy. Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. She works the part from the heart, one minute she has us choking from laughter and the next, we’re blinking back tears. I also loved Jennifer Lopez’s portrayal of Holly. Waiting to adopt, she is a wife trying to get her husband excited for the new family member. She always works to keep a brave face, even when she must learn to adapt to the less-than-perfect lifestyle she hoped for.
If you are a mom, you’ll likely find some value in this movie, even if it is just a few laughs. It’s over-the-top and kooky and even cheesy in places, but it would be boring if it weren’t. It’s definitely worth a matinee, followed by a lunch with your girlfriends or sisters…or your mom!
Three out of five stars.
