You would think walking in to a Green Hills movie theater at 10:25 on a Sunday night that it would be empty. Not that night! It was full!
Friends with Kids, the new movie with several members of the Bridesmaids cast, had minimal promotion in Nashville, but apparently it was a smash.
Newcomer Jennifer Westfeldt and Jason Scott find themselves the only single people in a group of close-knit friends. The movie addresses that sensitive time of people’s lives when they make the transition between life without major responsibilities to life with families and kids and all that comes after. Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm and Chris O’Dowd round out the cast and provide most of the comic relief. Westfeldt and Scott play best friends who decide they want to have kids after their close friends have children and embrace married life.
The movie addresses the good times and the rough times throughout the journey of Westfeldt and Scott having a child and raising it in a divorced-parent-like style.
It gives some alternative views of how to raise a family in a non-traditional lifestyle. It’s not something most people are familiar with coming out of a Christian school, but it has become more and more the norm in the last couple of generations.
This R-rated film includes some scenes with semi-censored sexual activities, which may be offensive to some people. There’s an abundance of foul language, not appropriate for a younger audience. I think all of these situations are intended to be funny and thought provoking; the director tries to produce a bigger picture–a romantic comedy wrapped up in the drama of parenting.
The movie has its fair share of ups and downs, just enough to keep you interested.
I went in to the movie expecting Bridesmaids-like humor. While it was similar comedy, there wasn’t as much focus on it. It’s unexpected from these SNL regulars, but I enjoyed it. I’d say the movie was worth my $9 ticket. I give it 3 out of 5 stars, maybe even edging up on that fourth star. It’s a ‘go see.’