Conception

Jumping persistently between so many couples throughout the entire movie is a technique I've never really seen before, especially in how it so effectively sucks you in AND breaks most Hollywood conventions while still being relatable. Conception earns its R rating through edgy adult dialogue and sparse nudity without jumping onto the "shock value" bandwagon of tastelessness and pointless crudity.

This is a sweet movie at heart, and Stolberg's ability to navigate through a wide variety of characters that you quickly grow to love and understand without the slightest bit of confusion makes it quite a rare gem.

And, for any of us who know filmmaking- shooting it in ten days (at least that's what I read somewhere) with roughly ten locations (I think), one for each couple, is flat out remarkable- and it certainly doesn't hurt to have such an experienced, likable, recognizable cast filling out every single scene: it's not often (or ever) that every single face in a low-budget movie with so many characters can actually be recognized, let alone have been pulled from some of the most groundbreaking television (and some movies) of the last few years- though half of those cast are actually working on hot shows right now.

This isn't a cliché-ridden, formulaic romantic comedy where characters are forced to figure out how much they really love each other, then lose each other, then get back together in the end- it's hanging out with real people who subtly (if not sneakily) grow on you, straight through to a culmination that ties everything together in a very charming way.

Saw this film with some friends at a film festival in Newport Beach, a few months ago. It was a pretty packed house and it was an adorable movie. The thing that stands out most is the chemistry between each of the couples, it was so real and believable - I loved that. That's always important to me as a viewer is if I can believe these two would be together? It was not exactly what I expected, as I was thinking it was going to be a bit of a raunchy film. It was adorable, genuine and very heart-felt. I will definitely be watching it again and cannot wait to check it out on DVD to catch some behind the scenes stuff. Luckily for me, I was able to check it out with the filmmakers and cast in attendance - which, for me, always makes the experience more enjoyable. In most cases, it doesn't necessarily mean you are going to enjoy the film more. For me, it did... I especially liked hearing how each of the "couples" scenes were shot in a day, on a tiny budget. It gives one hope that a budding filmmaker will be able to cast some big names in their tiny project... if the scripts right. And, luckily for this film, the script was right, I cannot stress how much I enjoyed it. Am I gushing? Whatever! Do yourself a favor and check it out, and make sure you check it out with a cuddle-buddy, as there will be some "ooh's and ahh's" within!

Caught this terrific little movie at a film festival and wondered why can't Hollywood, with its huge budgets, manage to turn out something half this good.

Conception tackles a tricky subject with humor and warmth. In our baby obsessed culture, trying to conceive is on many people's minds. The script managed to find the humor in it and reveled in the small moments.

The cast was terrific. Great to see some television actors get to flex different muscles. The interactions felt genuine and real and touching. It's nice to watch a movie that manages to walk the line between comedy and being heartfelt without feeling overdone and treacly. Conception does this with style and grace.

I wonder why there aren't more smart, charming romantic comedies like Conception.

I saw Conception last spring at the Boston film festival. We picked it because the story seemed different, sweet and funny. I thought I would be able to relate even if I hadn't been down that road, and I was looking for a good laugh, with a little romance and hopefully something more than the average romantic comedy. We were familiar with and loved a lot of the cast members. I had seen them in different movies and shows and thought they would work really well together.

After watching I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed it... It was hilarious! The touching moments were authentic. And with each accurate, awkward and emotion filled scene you can picture the situation happening yourself or someone you know too well. I loved it and I couldn't stop laughing- it's definitely a must see!!

"Conception" is charming, cute, and sincere. The situations are realistic and relatable, and the characters are true ... and it hits every note perfectly. I won't summarize it here (it's pretty clear what the storyline is!), I'll give the filmmakers credit for finding new ways to surprise us, to keep the stories engaging, and to make the relationships, whether they're brand-new or established, realistic and sweet. And although you might think it's going to end in a very predictable way, it doesn't. The ending is more poignant than you might expect. It's certainly not a movie for kids, but certainly a good movie for a date (maybe not a first date!), or if you and the Mrs. (or Mr.) have a night without the kids. It's easy to understand why this was a festival success.