OK for kids 15+
All-star cast headlines bawdy, inconsistently funny comedy.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that What to Expect When You're Expecting is a fairly funny but also formulaic ensemble comedy with little resemblance to the same-named line of pregnancy health books it was inspired by. There are plenty of references to the symptoms and complaints of pregnancy, for sure -- expect litanies about "cankles" and bladder issues and morning sickness, much of which won't appeal to teens and younger -- but the movie is mostly about the couples featured in it and their adventures in baby-making and child-rearing. Cliches run rife (dads-to-be are scared about the prospect of fatherhood; moms are pushy and overeager), as do swearing (mostly "s--t," "ass," and the like) and sexual references/humor (though there's not too much actual action).
- Families can talk about how Hollywood portrays parents. Do movies typically fall back on cliches when it comes to parenting roles? Why?
- What is the main message that What to Expect When You're Expecting relays about pregnancy and parenting? Do you think it glamorizes them?
- Parents, talk to your kids about how movies portray big milestones -- graduations, weddings, births -- and how those portrayals stack up against real life. Why do movies exaggerate the ups and downs of life?
The good stuff
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Messages: Most of the storylines promote the message that to be successful at co-parenting and relationships, couples must communicate with each other. While there are plenty of complaints about being pregnant and having a baby (as well as some sugarcoating of the joys and challenges of pregnancy), there are many discussions about the rewards of being a new parent, too.
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Role models: Many of the parents-to-be are warm, embracing of their journey, honest, and eager to learn. That said, there's some stereotyping, in that dads are portrayed as worried and hesitant about fatherhood, while moms are exuberant and excited. In real life, both genders have doubts and fears.
What to watch for
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Violence: Some loud arguments between friends, couples, and relatives. One father makes digs at his son, leading to a face-off that ends up with a golf cart in a pool.
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Sex: Lots of talk about sex (or needing to have sex to make babies), but no nudity. A few make-out scenes presumably lead to sex. Brief discussions of sex positions and one sex act. Many references to body parts, including "t-ts" (a kid shouts this out) and vaginas. Kissing and flirting; a character flashes a photo of his girlfriend, who's wearing a revealing bikini top.
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Language: Language includes one use of "f--k," plus frequent use of "s--t" and words like "d--k," "ass," "p---y," "bitches," "laid," slang terms for genitals, "hell," "crap," "damn," "goddamn," "oh my God," etc.
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Consumerism: Plenty of both subtle and not-so-subtle name-dropping and label-flashing, including Budweiser, NASCAR, Lacoste, Apple, Fisher-Price, Univision, and the ubiquitous Mini-Cooper and Delta Airlines.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Mostly social drinking, though it tips over into drunkenness in some scenes. One character has an outdoor bar that he calls "Margaritaville," and he likes to break out the liquor, day or night.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
What To Expect When You're Expecting by HarleyQuinnXB
Considering I own the book and haven't cracked it yet...... I knew it wasn't a typical "move follows the book" because the book is all about advice and not a work of fiction. However, the cast in this movie and the movie topic propelled me to see it despite being 7 months pregnant and quite uncomfortable sitting in a movie theatre for nearly 2 hours.
My always doting, and loving, and overprotective soon to be daddy/husband went with me and he enjoyed it as much as I did! He even cried. I cried alot, but that was to be expected. It was SO AWESOME to see a pregnancy like mine portrayed in the movie, and not all were made up to look like something out of the Pregnant in Heels tv show. ( I hate that show).
Even if you're not pregnant or have a child yet, I think you should see it just for the sheer hilarity of it, but please be warned there are some sad parts that may resonate with women (miscarriage, near death experiences). Go, enjoy, have a laugh, be inspired! :)
4
Film delivered exactly what I was expecting! by ekvegas
This was a great little romp around the feelings of having babies and included many different scenarios. Best of all it featured the transitions from "holey **** I'm going to be a parent" to the very real emotion of "Wow look at what we did!" and unlike a lot of chick flicks in didn't diminish Dad's role in all of it.
4
What to Expect when your Expecting by wgm
This movie has a lot of heart, a wonderful cast and by the time I walked out of the theatre I was crying and smiling at the same time. Very moving and funny, and very realistic. All the couples had great chemistry, and the whole movie just worked. Too many excellant performances so I don't have a stand out. Whether your pregnant or not, this movie is for you, but don't take my word for it, see it for yourselves.
4
Funny, Sad, Great Ending by cmredon
I knew going into this movie it would be somewhat predictable but there were actually some suprises and tear jerker moments. There were many funny sequences where I laughed out loud.
If you have any interest in getting pregant, are currently pregnant, adopting, or already have kids you will find it an enjoyable 2 hours.
4
Enjoyed it! by jsmagil
I saw it on over the weekend and I personally loved it. It made me laugh and cry. It had a few different scenarios about pregnancy and it touched me. The four dads on their Saturday walk were HYSTERTICAL! I am not saying it is oscar-worthy or anything but I would definitely reccommend going to see it :-)
4
WOW!!!! by DASHINGDIAMONDZ
IT WAS MUCH BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED. THE LADY WITH THE BREAST STORE AND HER ASSISTANT AT THE ABC CONVENTION STILL HAS ME LAUGHING. CHRIS ROCK AND HIS SON WAS TOO FUNNY. OVERALL I WOULD TELL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO GO SEE THIS MOVIE.
5
Mom of Three...Loved It! by thedemasti
I went to this movie to be entertained and I was. There was drama and hilarity mixed with heartbreak and crying. Exactly what I'm looking in a movie. Thanks!!!
5
FUNNY, FUNNY FUNNY!!! by Ms. Nicolette
Everyone was hilarious in this film. The part that really got me was when the one of the women was in labor and she asked for an epidural and her husband told her-"you told me if you asked, not to give it to you" and she slapped the living daylights out of him. My husband and I fell on the floor!!! This movie is a definite go-see if you just want to laugh. There were two scenes that made me cry but this movie is an excellent must go!!!!!!
5
A True Laugh Out Loud Movie! by njerseygirl816
There wasn't a quiet moment in the theatre! I constantly turned to my family after a million genuine, laughs "Haven't laughed this much since bridesmaids." BECAUSE half of the whole cast of bridesmaids was in it! A Must go! Definitly buying the DVD.
2
What to Expect when you're Expecting by vicki61956
I was terribly disappointed in this movie. It wasn't even slightly funny, the characters were unlikable and unbelievable, their behavior was stupid, and the plotlines were ridiculous. It was impossible to care about anyone in the movie. Even the one chance they had in the movie to really get you to be empathetic and invested in what happened was basically thrown away. There were numerous scenes where I found myself wondering what they were even trying to accomplish because it made no sense and wasn't funny. It has been a long time since I've seen a movie that I thought was more meaningless than this one. And who on earth thought it would work to cast Ben Falcone as Dennis Quaid's son? I realize Quaid is almost 20 years older than Falcone, but Falcone looks older. It was impossible to watch these characters and believe for one moment that they were supposed to be father and son.