WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING (M)
When: Now showing
Where: General release
I WASN’T expecting much from What to Expect When You’re Expecting, so maybe that’s what made it so, well, tolerable.
It’s kind of like when that rubbish party you have been dreading turns out OK. Which is not to say this film is in any way going to change your world, forever alter your view of parenthood or even provide deep and meaningful insight into how to raise your own mini-human. No, the most you can expect is a few chuckles, pleasing acknowledgement that pregnancy and childbirth very often suck and quite a few enjoyable moments with the ensemble cast.
And what a cast, as the premise of the movie is five interconnecting couples who are all expecting babies. It’s a fine juggling act to keep the viewer interested in 10 characters, and it doesn’t always work. While the star performers – Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez – are given a great deal of screen time, their storylines are the weakest, and instead “support’’ performers such as Chris Rock, Megan Mullally and Australia’s own Rebel Wilson as an hilariously clueless sales assistant provide most of the laughs.
Perhaps the most entertaining story belongs to Wendy (Elizabeth Banks, pictured far left) and Gary (Ben Falcone) who, after years of trying, are finally pregnant, only to find Gary’s father (Dennis Quaid at his crazy goggled-eyed best) and his trophy wife Skylar (Brooklyn Decker, pictured left) are having twins. Gary has been in lifelong competition with his over-achieving father and the news his dad is having two babies to his singleton tips him over the edge. Banks is a stand-out, her character lives a life mapped out by Martha Stewart, and the unpredictable nature of pregnancy leaves her scruffy and flatulent – while irritatingly Skylar sails along on a nine-month pregnancy high.
The Gen Y phwoar factor is provided by Marco (Chace Crawford) and Rosie (Anna Kendrick) and their sensitive storyline is well handled and offers some welcome relief to the helter-skelter nature of the other plotlines. They deserved more screen time.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting won’t appeal to everyone – I can’t imagine ticket sales from teenage boys are going to cover even a small box of popcorn – but anyone who has been on the parenting rollercoaster may want to buckle up for this ride.
