What to Expect When You're Expecting
2012 · Directed by Kirk Jones
Original language: English
- romance
- comedy
- drama
The story
Challenges of impending parenthood turn the lives of five couples upside down. Two celebrities are unprepared for the surprise demands of pregnancy; hormones wreak havoc on a baby-crazy author, while her husband tries not to be outdone by his father, who's expecting twins with his young trophy wife; a photographer's husband isn't sure about his wife's adoption plans; a one-time hook-up results in a surprise pregnancy for rival food-truck owners.
What it’s like
Bright, sunlit suburban and city interiors give this ensemble comedy a glossy, warmly lit look, with daytime light pouring through kitchens, nurseries and hospital corridors and a palette of pastels, primary-coloured baby gear and sleek studio sets. The camera stays conventional and mobile, favouring medium two-shots, quick cuts between storylines and cheerful pop-song needle drops over a bouncy, upbeat score. Its vibe is breezy, chatty and light-hearted, the kind of crowd-pleaser that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a girls' night in, or a comfort rewatch with a bowl of popcorn. The pacing is brisk and episodic, hopping between five couples whose arcs move from bickering and panic toward tenderness: a celebrity couple learning to slow down, a competitive husband softening toward his father, a wife and husband reconciling over adoption, rival food-truck owners drifting into affection. Emotional stakes are modest and the tone stays warm and sentimental, with broad physical comedy and frequent sweet, goofy moments. Intensity is low: some crude jokes and innuendo, a few sexual references, and mild dramatic tension around childbirth, but no violence, gore or real cruelty. It is aimed at audiences who want a feel-good, romantic comedy with plenty of laughs and a gentle, happy ending.
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