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How can I get across to you that this film is funny? If you like babies, or you want to get pregnant, or your expecting, or you've been there, done that, and never going there again, this film is for you. But, If you want to stay as far away from being a mommy and a daddy as you possibly can, well, this film is also for you. Its hilarious, coming from all sides, for those who know the true pains and emotional rollercoaster that pregnancy, giving birth and parenthood brings, well for those people, you are going to howl with laughter at just how truth bearing this film can be; and those who have the belief that being pregnant is all hormonal glows, and eat as much as you want etc. Welcome to Sex Education, class two: Being Pregnant.
It follows the pregnancy lives of 5 couples. All are experiencing pregnancy in different ways, and all are slightly interconnected, (I'm not talking inbreeding here folks, so you can relax). With a star studded cast of top actors, and supporting actors (yes I'm including both men and women here) there is no one normal who could not enjoy this film. The writers Shauna Cross, Heather Hach and Heidi Murkoff have done film lovers proud, and the direction from Kirk Jones, I bet was an easy job, dealing with such fantastic performers who seem to truly experience the experience of what to expect when your expecting. It's not just the women who had their roles down to a tea, and truly found the compassionate and funny side of their characters, but their partners. Yes girls and guys, and talking about the men. They did us proud. From the Dudes group living the unthinkable afternoon meet up, strapped to the brim with baby rollers, baby holders, milk bottles, and more, these guys play funny to the max. Then you've got the partners of the leading women, all very different characters, and yet all completely willing to do anything for their ladies. Ok, so now I'll go into a bit of detail.
Cameron Diaz plays Jules, a celebrity who is now dating her dancing partner Evan (Glee's Matthew Morrison) from a televised dancing show, similar to strictly come dancing for those here in the UK. J-lo AKA Holly is an aspiring photographer and is married to the not so ready to have a baby Alex (Rodrigo Santoro - Love actually, Charlies Angels: Full Throttle). They are the Adoption couple. Elizabeth Banks who plays Wendy is my favourite character in this film. She is a new author and baby shop owner, and is Married to Gary (Ben Falcone) . This is the IVF couple. (A little insight here, that in real life, Bens Father is a Midwife and so Ben had hands on experience/training before the film began and actually delivered some babies). Bens father in the film however is more a big kid himself as opposed to delivering them. Ramsey, played by Dennis Quaid, is an ex motor car racer, is very rich and who's very young girlfriend Skyler (Brooklyn Decker – very funny, blonde character) also becomes pregnant, with twins, to Wendy and Bens dismay, as Ramsey is always doing things one step better than poor Ben. Next couple, are the not-quite-a-couple, Rosie and Marco, played by Anna Kendrick from the Twilight films, and Chace Crawford from Gossip Girl series. These two are business owners in self-catering vans, in competition with each other, but who have a history, which then repeats itself briefly, with repercussions. This is the 'oops, that was not meant to happen' couple.
Then we have one of the best side plots ever incorporated in a film I've seen of late: The Dudes Group. Including the main man Chris Rock as Vic (the less ADHD version of Eddie Murphy), The always funny and geeky Thomas Lennon, who plays Craig, and who has also been in numerous films such as the recent Bad Teacher, again alongside Cameron Diaz). Rob Huebel plays Gabe, probably for me, one of two members of the group who didn't really stand out, the other being Patel played by Amir Talai (The Pursuit of Happiness and Harold And Kumar – Escape from Guantanamo Bay), and lastly their Hero, the man who isn't in the Dudes group at all but is who the Dudes group all look up to and wish they could be, welcome Davis, to whom, they chant his name whenever he runs past (must be incase he forgets it). This guys guy is the guys guy of ALL guys guys. (Did I say guy enough there?) Towering over 6ft easily, ripped to the brim of steel flesh, doing one handed pull-ups and playing on the softball team (football to us English folk) Davis sort of looks after the group which looks up to him. The reason the dudes group comes into the films plot, is to persuade the not so keen soon to be dad Alex, that having a child is a fantastic experience. Not so sure if that will work. I also can't mention the Dudes group without talking about Vics very cute, but very accident prone little boy. The kid is a brilliant added extra, so keep your eyes peeled for those gags. Another added extra is the supporting role of Janice (Rebel Wilson from Bridesmaids) as Wendys slightly slow, very loyal and very funny work colleague, though her attempt at what ever accent she attempting could have done with a little extra work, though the unpolished outcome only adds to her whimsical, and slightly thick demeanor.
The film has a lot of slapstick humour. It has romance, it has very sad moments…Yes, I did have something in my eye. There is a miscarriage in the film, break ups, and some very real issues any couple expecting a child may go through, but the writers have delivered a script so full of humour, that such a real, weighty subject as creating a life, and all the worries and responsibility that come with it, have been given a little breathing space, a chance to step back and simply laugh at how messed up some situations get. This film doesn't sugar coat birth, and the process of growing a baby inside a woman, and it hopefully sheds a little light on the false fantasies of a perfect happy life you and your partner will now have when your cuddly bundle of joy arrives in the world. It very cleverly combines truth, albeit in a very light hearted humerous way, with the serious stuff serious, adding a bit of comedy, romance, and keeping us entertained along the way.
It seems to me, films are just getting better, and this is a perfect example. It's incredibly funny. A big round of applause to the writers and actors, they all did a splendid job. If I were to criticize anything, and that's part of the job, I would mention that the way the couples are all inter-related seems slightly unrealistic, and some of the lines are possibly a little too obvious, but I'll let it slide as they were needed to achieve some of the funniest gags, and after all, it is only a film, how realistic do we expect a comedy to be? I'll leave you with one of my favourite lines from the film shouted out by Wendy to her husband Gary on the way to the hospital: "God Gar', Keep your eyes on the road you worthless piece of shit. Sorry baby, I love you, you know that". Fantastic!
This film would be perfect for women, gay men, and the modern man, who isn't afraid of a little film about babies. And fellas, if you do brave it, you wont be sorry! Also for fans of Bridesmaids, The Hangover, Horrible Bosses, and other films such as Knocked Up etc.