Tuesday 5 June 2012

What To Expect When You're Expecting


The answer appears to be...expect no humour.

'What to Expect When You're Expecting' has some moments of drama but is presented basically as a comedy. Why then is it so unfunny? How can it be that Hollywood, with all the creative resources at its disposal, can produce such a dud?

The audience I was amongst viewed the film in silence. Not a murmur, a titter, a guffaw, let alone a full throated laugh to be heard. Eventually there was a tinkle of laughter. About 90 minutes into the film - I checked my watch when it happened - some laughed when a pregnant woman farted. Classy!

The film's title says it all as to what passes as the overall plot. There are too many story lines each battling for space, few of them succeeding to make an impression. Maybe the result would have been better had those story lines with no apparent point been removed? Might the film have been more interesting if it only revolved around, say, two story lines such as the couple adopting a child from Ethiopia and the couple struggling to fall pregnant who find when eventually they succeed that it's not all that they expected.

Australia's Rebel Wilson tries hard in a small supporting role using a strange accent that, as best I could tell, swings wildly between Ocker and Southern Belle, and maintains a pained expression throughout. She's wasn't the only one.

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