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5.1/10
3.9K
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A distanced couple decide to take in a seemingly innocent pregnant woman in hopes of adopting her unborn child. However, there is more to a book than its cover.A distanced couple decide to take in a seemingly innocent pregnant woman in hopes of adopting her unborn child. However, there is more to a book than its cover.A distanced couple decide to take in a seemingly innocent pregnant woman in hopes of adopting her unborn child. However, there is more to a book than its cover.
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There seems to be a lot of people struggling over 'the point' of this movie. Is it a spoof or is it just a regular cruddy Lifetime movie?
With a plot that is so tiresome that I'm not going to bother detailing it, I say it's undoubtedly the latter. This is no spoof and Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell are merely playing a standard Lifetime script totally straight. They're not winking at the audience and I'd be very surprised if this was written specifically for them. I imagine it was an off-the-peg script that was lying around in the Lifetime offices.
And *that* is the joke. That's why Wiig and Ferrell were keen on doing this. Everyone else involved was just doing their regular job, safe in the knowledge that the film would be seen by a far wider audience than their usual output because of the curiosity aspect. The currently awful rating on IMDb will be of no surprise to either star and I doubt either of them will be losing any sleep as it drops even further.
So... the point? To get lots of viewers. To give Wiig and Ferrell a bit of fun. To get people talking.
And they succeeded.
But should you watch this movie? No, because the joke isn't for anyone's amusement other than the two stars - and a joke that has to be explained is really no use to anyone.
This is a slightly dull movie that happens to star two A-list performers - and that's hardly unique.
With a plot that is so tiresome that I'm not going to bother detailing it, I say it's undoubtedly the latter. This is no spoof and Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell are merely playing a standard Lifetime script totally straight. They're not winking at the audience and I'd be very surprised if this was written specifically for them. I imagine it was an off-the-peg script that was lying around in the Lifetime offices.
And *that* is the joke. That's why Wiig and Ferrell were keen on doing this. Everyone else involved was just doing their regular job, safe in the knowledge that the film would be seen by a far wider audience than their usual output because of the curiosity aspect. The currently awful rating on IMDb will be of no surprise to either star and I doubt either of them will be losing any sleep as it drops even further.
So... the point? To get lots of viewers. To give Wiig and Ferrell a bit of fun. To get people talking.
And they succeeded.
But should you watch this movie? No, because the joke isn't for anyone's amusement other than the two stars - and a joke that has to be explained is really no use to anyone.
This is a slightly dull movie that happens to star two A-list performers - and that's hardly unique.
After much speculation it turned out the movie wasn't at all a comedy/parody, although some moments could've been interpreted in a funny way(the garage door opening being one of them), it is actually a Lifetime tribute with essential elements of their movies that have been popular with its audience: a life-altering accident, a fresh start after couple of months/years(it occurs twice in perfect sync at the beginning and ending of the movie), alcoholic husband, naive partner/wife, dark past that gets everyone in trouble, a crazy ex-lover, best friend who knows too much for his own good, phone that stops working in a crucial moment, police getting involved all too late, saving the day ending and lets not forget the classic handgun shooting happening between almost all characters in a row.
For a Lifetime casual fan this will a great movie of their beloved genre full with all the dramatic bits that they enjoyed throughout the years involving 2 A+ listed actors who attracted attention, in order to celebrate their 25th anniversary of hilarious clichés.
For non-lifetime viewers this will be a new and enjoyable experience which they could find funny in some scenes given the 2 comedy Gods involved in it, but you need to have seen at least 1 Lifetime movie to understand the replicated elements that are included in this anniversary. Its not a parody per-se because they didn't had to exaggerate the already overly-dramatized bits which are usually found in Lifetime movies and which some of their casual viewers find hilarious, its simply a replication of those but bunched together in a single movie.
10/10
For a Lifetime casual fan this will a great movie of their beloved genre full with all the dramatic bits that they enjoyed throughout the years involving 2 A+ listed actors who attracted attention, in order to celebrate their 25th anniversary of hilarious clichés.
For non-lifetime viewers this will be a new and enjoyable experience which they could find funny in some scenes given the 2 comedy Gods involved in it, but you need to have seen at least 1 Lifetime movie to understand the replicated elements that are included in this anniversary. Its not a parody per-se because they didn't had to exaggerate the already overly-dramatized bits which are usually found in Lifetime movies and which some of their casual viewers find hilarious, its simply a replication of those but bunched together in a single movie.
10/10
If you watch Lifetime movies of the week you know they tend to be overwrought, supposedly true life melodramas with a cookie cutter story.
The script and acting are no great shakes.
A Deadly Adoption could had gone for the parody route like Scary Movie, Austin Powers or Naked Gun films. Instead they have de-constructed the typical Lifetime film and made a better version of it.
The film has the usual tropes and clichés with just a hint of a knowing wink here and there. As one character states:'I found an unopened box of chocolate today. You know the dangers of diabetic ketoacidosis.'
The biggest difference is that this television movie of the week has two A list cinema stars. Will Ferrell plays a financial management guru with a string of successful books.
Kristen Wiig is his wife who sells organic food in market stalls in their small town. They have a five year old daughter Sully to whom they are overprotective towards especially as she is diabetic.
Right at the beginning we see Wiig falls over from a dilapidated boat dock into the river which results in a miscarriage. Some years later as the story progresses they meet Jessica Lowndes who is homeless and giving her baby up for adoption however she is not all sweet and innocent and her path has crossed with Ferrell before.
Ferrell and Wiig play it straight. Ferrell also has what looks like a fake beard and recites the corny lines likes it is Shakespeare. You get a hint that he might be sexually attracted to Lowndes as he looks down her cleavage and Lowndes has a hoot playing the femme fatale role.
Yet it is surprisingly zippy, it moves along at a fast pace, it has a fair amount of cheesiness, bad stunts and ludicrous plot developments.
Still there is only so much you can do when you try to polish a turd.
The script and acting are no great shakes.
A Deadly Adoption could had gone for the parody route like Scary Movie, Austin Powers or Naked Gun films. Instead they have de-constructed the typical Lifetime film and made a better version of it.
The film has the usual tropes and clichés with just a hint of a knowing wink here and there. As one character states:'I found an unopened box of chocolate today. You know the dangers of diabetic ketoacidosis.'
The biggest difference is that this television movie of the week has two A list cinema stars. Will Ferrell plays a financial management guru with a string of successful books.
Kristen Wiig is his wife who sells organic food in market stalls in their small town. They have a five year old daughter Sully to whom they are overprotective towards especially as she is diabetic.
Right at the beginning we see Wiig falls over from a dilapidated boat dock into the river which results in a miscarriage. Some years later as the story progresses they meet Jessica Lowndes who is homeless and giving her baby up for adoption however she is not all sweet and innocent and her path has crossed with Ferrell before.
Ferrell and Wiig play it straight. Ferrell also has what looks like a fake beard and recites the corny lines likes it is Shakespeare. You get a hint that he might be sexually attracted to Lowndes as he looks down her cleavage and Lowndes has a hoot playing the femme fatale role.
Yet it is surprisingly zippy, it moves along at a fast pace, it has a fair amount of cheesiness, bad stunts and ludicrous plot developments.
Still there is only so much you can do when you try to polish a turd.
Robert Benson (Will Ferrell) is a best selling author and financial guru. His wife Sarah (Kristen Wiig) suffers a miscarriage after a dock accident. Five years later, Robert is a recluse and a recovering alcoholic. Sarah is an organic food vendor. He's overprotective of their diabetic daughter Sully (Alyvia Alyn Lind). They're looking to adopt and they meet expecting mother Bridgette Gibson (Jessica Lowndes). They invite Bridgette to stay with them rather than going back to the women's shelter. The problem is that something ominous about Bridgette.
Is it a spoof? Yes, sort of. This is a fascinating odd little Lifetime TV movie. These are great comedians playing it somewhat straight. Yet the dialogue is read with a (pardon the pun) pregnant pause. They are acting sincere but they seem to be doing it with a nudge and a wink. It is serious but it is not at all serious. It opens with a ridiculous dock accident. There's no way this is being treated as a serious drama. Just look at Will Ferrell's hair. That's insanely wrong. But nobody is playing this for easy Wayans brothers' parody laughs. I laugh when Sarah and Bridgette fight but they are not doing a fake comedic fight. This is a fun weird movie.
Is it a spoof? Yes, sort of. This is a fascinating odd little Lifetime TV movie. These are great comedians playing it somewhat straight. Yet the dialogue is read with a (pardon the pun) pregnant pause. They are acting sincere but they seem to be doing it with a nudge and a wink. It is serious but it is not at all serious. It opens with a ridiculous dock accident. There's no way this is being treated as a serious drama. Just look at Will Ferrell's hair. That's insanely wrong. But nobody is playing this for easy Wayans brothers' parody laughs. I laugh when Sarah and Bridgette fight but they are not doing a fake comedic fight. This is a fun weird movie.
Having never heard of this film prior to watching and also not realizing that this was a "Lifetime television" movie until after seeing several comments and looking further into the film.
Found it quite different and actually enjoyable. It is predictable and the "twists" are quite obvious but given the situation it's a solid film to pass the time.
We see Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig (two comedians) in a rather serious dark film and at points we suspect that the film to be a joke or a parody but they seemed to play it straight throughout.
A Deadly Adoption is a short enough film where everything seems to happen rather quickly, so it doesn't necessarily drag. For a Lifetime movie starring two big actors it's solid.
Found it quite different and actually enjoyable. It is predictable and the "twists" are quite obvious but given the situation it's a solid film to pass the time.
We see Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig (two comedians) in a rather serious dark film and at points we suspect that the film to be a joke or a parody but they seemed to play it straight throughout.
A Deadly Adoption is a short enough film where everything seems to happen rather quickly, so it doesn't necessarily drag. For a Lifetime movie starring two big actors it's solid.
Did you know
- TriviaWill Ferrell and Kristen Wiig secretly made this movie. It was a surprise to many people when the announcement of the movie was leaked to the press.
- Quotes
Robert Benson: I found an unopened box of chocolate today. You know the dangers of diabetic ketoacidosis!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Half in the Bag: 2021 Movie Catch-Up (part 2 of 2) (2022)
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