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What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)

Director: Kirk Jones. Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock.

Don't ask me what possessed me to go and watch this film. In my defence I can tell you that I had seen everything else at my local multiplex and I had 2 hours to spare. Also the cast seemed impressive enough... and, to top it all up, my wife is pregnant, so I thought at least I would fit its target audience just perfectly.

To be completely honest I was expecting (sorry about the pun) something a lot worse: this is one of those average ensemble comedies where, as always some of the stories and some of the characters are more successful than others but in the end they are so many of them that if you are a parent or preparing to be one, you're bound to find a something to like... Other than that, this is all pure middle-class Hollywood, pretty slick, light-hearted but with enough sweet-and-sour moments to make it feel like it's actually about something. Obviously at the end of the day it's all rather forgettable, and it's actually a great shame, because the acting talent a shown here is impressive (surprisingly even Jennifer Lopez showcases a nuanced performance unlike much we'd seen before) both directing and editing are potentially quite skilled at doing what they do and the few good moments here and there give you a little glimpse of what it could have been.

The main problem is that the film is just not funny enough to be able to be a crowd pleaser and looses itself among the too many subplots, some of which are way off the main subject, to be able to become a classic (the golf cart chase sequence is one of the lowest and unfunny points and the father group sequences, despite Chris Rock, are just too indulgent, over the top and long). However having said all this, I must confess, even though I laughed very little, I found myself moved a couple of times: oh dear, it really must be the hormones (I think they call it sympathetic pregnancy).

6/10 wp.me/p19wJ2-yv

This film is about several couples who are expecting babies. They run into various troubles and emotional rollercoasters while preparing themselves for parenthood.

"What to Expect When You're Expecting" is a lighthearted comedy that makes you laugh, just like what is advertised. Of course, the way to parenthood is not just happy and joyful, so the film also realistically portrays the unglamorous side of expecting mothers. Some of these are presented as crude toilet humour, while others are presented as emotional rollercoasters that will touch your heart. I like the fact that characters in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" do not have a smooth breezy path, but face adversity like in real life. It is an interesting comedy for expecting mothers.

It's ironic that I am not a dad (or a soon-to-be one) and the funniest thing is that there are moments in which my mom went through the whole pregnancy issue, but I happen to enjoy a movie called "What to Expect When You're Expecting", based on the self-help book of the same name for soon-to-be mothers by Heidi Murkoff. Here's the good news: For men and women who are mothers and fathers or about to become those parents, you can relate to these certain issues: Miscarriages, infertility, contractions, hormones, adoption....the whole nine yards (or months) of surviving pregnancy. So, how to start reorganizing the plot? I know, how about I'll connect the story by the dots. Dot 1: Holly (The lovely Jennifer Lopez), a photographer and her husband Alex (Rodrigo Santoro) are about to adopt a baby from Ethiopia. Dot 2: Rosie (Anna Kendrick) and Marco (Chase Crawford, one of those heartthrobs from "Gossip Girl") are rival food-truck owners who had a one-night stand that results in a big oops. She does get pregnant until... (I'm not telling.) Dot 3: Wendy (the always lovable Elizabeth Banks) and her husband Gary (Ben Falcone from "Bridesmaids") are about to finally have a baby after two years of trying, only to find themselves competing with Gary's father Ramsey (Dennis Quaid), a race-car driver and his trophy wife, the gorgeous Southern Belle Skyler (Brooklyn Decker, yes, that Brooklyn Decker) who's eating for three. (You get the expression, right?) And finally for dot 4, Jules (Cameron Diaz), a trainer for a "Biggest Loser"-type TV show and Evan (the charming Matthew Morrison from my favorite show "Glee"), a dancer for a "Dancing with the Stars"-type show are expecting one, as well. Only to find their careers in chaos due to the baby issue. Oh, I forgot dot 5: The Dudes Group, run by Vic (Chris Rock) and his buddies (with kids) hang out every Saturday and helping poor Alex (from that first dot) on how to be a man and to become a dad. It's a heavy order to make a movie about the ups and downs of pregnancy, but director Kirk Jones and screenwriters Shauna Cross and Heather Hach walks a fine balance of what makes us laugh, what can we expect to happen and how to relate to those issues. The results for that makes it a very, very funny and unexpectedly moving film. When the pregnancy for the four of the five couples comes kicking in, it's realistic, moving, heartbreaking and utterly remarkable. The all-star cast, also including Australian comedienne Rebel Wilson (also from "Bridesmaids" and the upcoming "Pitch Perfect") as Wendy's assistant, Janice and Joe Manganiello from "True Blood" as the Dudes' Group's other (and hunky) Lone Wolf, Davis, are amazing. The stories that sometimes interconnect with one another are surprisingly good. And by the end, there's always that one movie that's made for adults and how the audience can relate to moments like that, which could happen in real life. I guess this is a movie that's, at least, worth expecting.

I was expecting to come away with a sassy name for this new genre, the Hollywood-ensemble rom-com, but there was nothing clever to provide any inspiration in "What to Expect When You're Expecting". The best line that I have heard to describe this comes from a fellow IMDb user, gregeichelberger, "It's "New Year's Eve" in the neo-natal unit; "Valentine's Day" with a uterus; "Knocked Up" times five." That sums up the whole thing perfectly.

The Hollywood ensemble is this frustrating trend to load the movie with as many stars as possible, so you have only floating heads and no actual characters. Surprisingly, one of the worst offenders is the similarly-themed indie dramedy "Conception" (2010) where we get to follow 9 (yes, 9!) different couples. This movie isn't as bad, there are only 5 main couples.

The intertwining of them is very limited. The four other girls basically all watch Jules (Cameron Diaz) on her reality TV shows. The timing, on the other hand, is all in sync. They get pregnant at the same time, start showing at the same time, and give birth at the same time. The point is of course that you don't know what to expect since each girl's pregnancy is different and experiences it differently.

Jules is going to control it – whether her partner tags along or not; Holly (Jennifer Lopez) is going to lie her way through adoption if that's what it takes; Wendy (Elizabeth Banks) wants the joy but gets the worst; Skyler (Brooklyn Decker) is going to make it perfect, just like herself; Rosie (Anna Kendrick) doesn't know what she's going to do. If the movie had left it at that, it would have been cute, romantic, funny and heartfelt, and possibly empowering.

But then they introduced "the dude pack" which is even worse than it sounds. They are a group of fathers, led by Chris Rock, who are given the stupidest sounding lines to try and make funny. It was painful how unfunny it was. Imagine if you will, a Hollywood writer being paid to come up with never-before-said lines to turn into popular catch-phrases. The way "Horrible Bosses" was almost successful (but ultimately not) with Sudeikis' "I would like to bend her over a barrel and show her the fifty states". That was exactly the case with the "comedy" in this movie. All of their lines were met with a few unimpressed question marks on faces but never any laughs.

However, the mothers-to-be were pretty good. Some were on the boring side, but two were able to deliver enough humour and heart to almost make up for the entirety of "What to Expect When You're Expecting". I don't know what it is about Anna Kendrick but she makes my heart melt every time she's on the screen. Extremely cute, in a relatable kind of way, and able to hold our hearts, she was the one that got us through this movie. Elizabeth Banks was able to go as over-the-top as only pregnant movie heroines are allowed to and gave it her all to deliver the comedy of what not to expect. Of course, it wasn't quite enough because we do know exactly what to expect.

Well... don't expect much. The plot is thin, predictable and the movie is simply not funny. My girlfriend roped me in -- so I went. The cast was likable... but everything else about the movie I couldn't bear. That said, this is a sure fire girl film that your lady love... especially if she has baby on her mind. The cast is very easy on the eyes.. especially the gorgeous Brooklyn Decker who is certainly bound to a be a big star. Jennifer Lopez was not very good or funny. My favorite characters in the film were Chris Rock and Anna Kendrick who are always funny and spot on in their roles. Great date film... but GUYS, beware -- you are in for a tedious night.