Review: 'What To Expect When You're Expecting'

Film: What To Expect When You’re Expecting
Director: Kirk Jones
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Matthew Morrison, Anna Kendrick, Chace Crawford and others
Rating: **

Inspired by the bestseller of the same name by Heidi Murkoff, the film What To Expect When You’re Expecting follows the lives of five very different women as three of them go through pregnancies, one through the process of adoption, and one through a miscarriage. As far as the plot goes, this is it, the women and their husbands/ boyfriends trying to prepare themselves for parenthood.

One word that can define this film is- 'predictable'. Multiple pregnancies, hormonal breakdowns, an Ethiopian adoption and still you see nothing new. All films involving childbirth have started looking the same and What to Expect… is no different. Right from the first 10 minutes you know how the rest of the film is going to play out. It’s pretty much the same hit and miss that was He’s Just Not That Into you. This just proves a pretty looking ensemble doesn’t guarantee a good film.

The script has tried to incorporate every possible scenario in which one can have a baby keeping in mind factors such as age, careers, class and race, but having five different sub-plots kills the film. In this case, too much is happening with too many people and as a result the audience can’t connect with any of it.

As far as performances go, the youngest pair and the one with the least amount of screen time stands out over the rest. Anna Kendrick and Chace Crawford make a good looking 20-something couple and it’s their story that has a real twist.

Jennifer Lopez is pretty much doing the same thing she did in The Back-Up Plan, only without the big belly and Cameron Diaz’s role is nothing short of completely random. Elizabeth Banks’ performance is just fine but her character can’t seem to make up its mind. Her clothes scream uptight-cardigan-wearing Stepford wife while her attitude is quite easy-going, even quirky. 

The men are just in the plot to support their female counterparts and to deliver dialogues like “I don’t want to win, I just want you and the baby to be safe and happy” and other such clichés in between. The scene where Matthew Morrison kisses Cameron Diaz’s belly and with a serious expression says “daddy’s here” is nothing short of hilarious.

If you’re prepared for this and many more such moments then go ahead and watch, you already know what you’re in for. I suggest you skip it for something better.