What To Expect: A film for me?

I'm not sure if Hollywood producers heard the good word of Wifey's impregnation, or what, but it seems like there is a saturation of baby-related films on the market right now.  Ok, so maybe we're just more aware of them thanks to our situation.  Either way, they're there and suddenly I care.

'What To Expect When You're Expecting' (the film) takes it's title from the previously-referenced pregnancy bible by Heidi Murkoff (who, just quietly, must be absolutely swimming in dosh).  Beyond the name-share, a distinct pregnancy theme and a blink-and-you'll-miss-it placement of the book, the connection ends there.  This film follows Hollywood's new favourite formula, inspired by the motherland's pride (and my mother's tax-time cheer-me-up), 'Love Actually': take a central theme (ie: Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, pregnancy) and create several different plot-lines which, despite being insufficient to make a complete film on their own, somehow intertwine with vague cross-overs to create enough action to fill their allotted 120 minute(ish) runtime.

So how does this film for the masses weigh up against our pregnancy experience?

Well, pretty much, there is a little something here for everyone's pregnancy experience.  There is the (kind-of) secret couple in the public eye who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant; there is the one night stand complete with surprise knock-up; there is the beautiful married couple who are unable to conceive and turn to adoption; there is the long-trying married couple who, on the verge of resorting to IVF find themselves pregnant; then his racing-car-driving father and his way-too-young (super-hot) new wife, who are also pregnant...with twins!  So already you can see that writers have set themselves up for an absolute barrel of laughs!

However, poorly-executed slapstick aside, there were some genuinely funny moments in this film, though many of them seemed to land more squarely for we two sitting happy in baby-baking splendour, than those just along to see the latest feel-good flick.  But there were also some truly poignant moments too.  There were the moments of baby-inspired connection between central characters, not to mention a miscarriage scene that had generally sensitive, but currently overly-hormonal Wifey straight-up bawling.

It's no surprise that the end of the film heralds a montage of birth.  This rattled my cage.  In a previous post I stated emphatically that I would be standing boldly beside Wifey as she heaved and moaned our little burden from within.  Nothing like a montage of birthing agony to challenge such resolve!  Once again, this scene brings a little for everyone - from screaming 'natural' birth, to emergency C-section in blissful morphine-induced semi-coma, to the anti-hero: the blonde bombshell (whose greatest pregnancy fears of interrupted exercise classes were not realised and whose greatest pregnancy drama was a heavily-engrossed libido), who sneezed and popped out her first twin.

All these beautiful tales of female experience aside, the greatest part of this film for me was the group of fathers (played by a choice selection of immediately-recognisable comedic actors) who give a voice to the men in this process.  Finally!  The banter between these guys and a never-fading crocodile smile from Chris Rock, who declares "...we love being dads!  When I was young, I used to think I was so happy; now I know I'm happy!" instilled a new flare for fatherhood inside me.  Even if it was paired with an acknowledgement that your opinion counts for little on anything baby-related if it isn't in line with your partner's thinking.  Just as well "there is no judging in 'Dudes Group'!"