What to Expect When You're Expecting [M]

Having a baby is said to be one of the most beautiful things in the world… It isn’t! For happily married couple Gary and Wendy, there is no glow with the bump, only discomfort and pain, which makes the pregnancy worse when compared to Gary’s mother-in-law’s perfect and symptom-free one happening at the same time. Holly and Alex decide to adopt after trying for ages, but when the adoption becomes available way too soon, the two are forced to question whether they are ready or not. Celebrity weight-loss motivator Jules and her partner find themselves fighting about every tiny decision, which puts a strain on their relationship as well as their careers, as the gossip tabloids keep them on the front page. And Rosie and Marco, after a one-night stand, find their friendship in a very awkward place. 

Well I suppose this is one of those classic gender-dividing movies, even though it does try to appeal to the men as well. For a girl watching this, even one that is far away from that bump in the road, this movie is a real tearjerker. Amidst all the screaming and everything, just seeing these glowing happy faces, seeing new mums and dads touching their newborn babies, and hearing those screams suddenly come from nowhere, it appeals to every woman and really brings a tear to the eye. Aside from the strong maternal pull of this movie, it’s not really not much to brag about: the stories are very so-so, there isn’t much laugh out loud comedy, though you have to admire its trying, and ultimately it’s just sort of there, neither brilliant nor shocking. 

Having a baby is said to be one of the most beautiful things in the world… It isn’t! For happily married couple Gary and Wendy, there is no glow with the bump, only discomfort and pain, which makes the pregnancy worse when compared to Gary’s mother-in-law’s perfect and symptom-free one happening at the same time. Holly and Alex decide to adopt after trying for ages, but when the adoption becomes available way too soon, the two are forced to question whether they are ready or not. Celebrity weight-loss motivator Jules and her partner find themselves fighting about every tiny decision, which puts a strain on their relationship as well as their careers, as the gossip tabloids keep them on the front page. And Rosie and Marco, after a one-night stand, find their friendship in a very awkward place. 

I have to say though that all the performances were great and the script was fine, filled with subtle comedy and ultimately a very fair and truthful message about expecting: what you’re expecting still comes unexpectedly. 

I think the movie’s major pull is the cast though, without a doubt. Starring Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Matthew Morrison, Thomas Lennon, and Rebel Wilson, What To Expect When You’re Expecting is a lovely parental comedy with a good message and filled with funny moments, home truths, romance, and drama. I enjoyed it, but I do think that its real power is in those few final climactic moments. It made me tear up at any rate.