** Spoiler Alert Ahead**
This movie was basically what I expected it to be. It was an okay movie that didn't make any major errors in the science of conceiving, but didn't really spend any time going in-depth into the pregnancy journey, either. It glossed over almost all of the trying to conceive efforts, except brief mention of struggles by two couples. One couple was at the two year mark and talking about fertility treatments, but got pregnant at an outdoor movie theater, no interventions required. Another couple mentioned they spent their 401k on IVF and were adopting, but we never saw any of their IF struggle either. Everyone else in the movie either got pregnant by accident or on their first try.
This was your typical comedy/romantic comedy, meaning it had a basic storyline with nothing too mind-blowing in the theme or dialogue. I did appreciate how they tied everything together (a la 'Love Actually' or 'Crazy Stupid Love'), but there wasn't anything revolutionary or enlightening in the movie. I did love Elizabeth Banks' 'most of what you are told is crap and there is no glow' breakdown scene.
I have not been blessed with a take home baby yet, but I completely understand that, for most women, at least some parts of pregnancy are not at all what they are cracked up to be. Acne, fatigue, flatulence, morning sickness, growing larger each day, and, possibly worst of all, the actual birth part - all are very welcome unglamorous parts of pregnancy that are accepted only because they lead to the birth of your baby. I was able to relate with Banks, even without being a mother, because it seemed to be the most 'real' portrayal of motherhood within the movie.
The dad's group was not as funny as I had imagined it to be - most of the scenes were in the numerous trailers. They didn't add much in the movie beyond the trailers, but the idea of such a group humored me. Personally, I think Jimmy Fallon's new TV show 'Guys with Kids' is a much funnier portrayal of men raising children, but I appreciated the break from constant bump action throughout the movie.
There was one part of the movie that made me ugly-cry so hard that M ran upstairs, thinking I was physically injured. The entire miscarriage storyline tore open some very real and pretty fresh wounds that I thought had started to heal the past few months. My story is no where near identical to that which is in the movie, but it still just ate at my soul. I might not have been physically injured, but emotionally, I was crushed.
The worst part was that I completely forgot this storyline was in the movie. I remember the PSAs when the movie came out, and common sense should have told me that a movie all about getting pregnant and having a child might include this storyline, but it just slipped my mind. For the past few days I have been in a funk that I cannot shake, just because I could deeply relate to her story line.
In the end, overall the movie was okay. The cast was stellar, but none of them presented their best performance to date. The storyline has been done before and this offered nothing really new, but it wasn't too choppy or unrealistic, either. They avoided going into the science behind infertility, so they didn't really lose points in the 'realistic' category. I am glad I didn't pay to see this in theaters or even to rent it, but I also don't feel like it was a total waste of my time. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.
If you're looking for something similar, check out the movie 'Conception'. It is an indie movie with a similar feel (although less comedic). The only difference is that instead of the pregnancy journey, it is the conceiving journey.
The cast includes David Arquette (Scream), Aaron Ashmore (Smallville, twin brother of Shawn Ashmore), Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation, Falling Skies), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights, AHS, Nashville), Sarah Hyland (Modern Family), Jason Mantzoukas (Ravi on The League), Pamela Adlon (Californication), Jennifer Finnigan (Monday Mornings, The Bold and the Beautiful), Steve Howey (Shameless, Reba), Jonathan Silverman (Weekend at Bernie's), Gregory Smith (Harriet the Spy, Small Soldiers, Everwood, Rookie Blue), and Alan Trudyk ('Steve the Pirate' in Dodgeball, Suburgatory).
It is loaded with talent and they carry the pretty decent storyline. I give it 4 out of 5 stars - a great girl's night movie (especially if you are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant. Highly recommended for those who enjoy independent films!
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