Friends with Kids

Three couples, long time friends, deal - and at times fail to deal - with changes in their relationships when children enter their lives.

Two thirds of the way through, 'Friends with Kids' turns dramatic revealing the serious reality that simmered just below the surface of what till then had been a fast talking, wisecracking comedy.

A quite interesting premise is undermined by predictable plot developments and an ending which is disappointingly pat.

The main couple are portrayed by Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt. I had difficulty with their characterisation as a couple because Scott's character, clearly straight, behaves for the most part in his relationship with Westfeldt's character as though he were her gay best friend. Westfeldt not only leads as actor but also is listed as the film's director, writer and one of a team of producers. A busy lady.

'Mad Men's' John Hamm, another producer of the film, must be a good sport to also act in the film given that his character is mostly a shit of a man. Come to think of it, so is Hamm's character in Mad Men.

The film has its moments but it could have been so much better.