What to Expect When You're Expecting

There is a new movie formula in Hollywood: borrow a famous nonfiction book title; pair it with a fictitious plot; and fill it with an all star cast. What to Expect When You're Expecting is the latest such formula movie. The all-star ensemble (e.g. Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, Dennis Quaid etc.) features several couples on their paths to parenthood: Cameron Diaz plays a Jillian Michaels type fitness trainer who finds herself pregnant by her Dancing with the Stars dance partner; Jennifer Lopez's character is one half of an infertile couple who are adopting from Ethiopia; Elizabeth Banks' character is in a pregnancy competition with her 26 year old stepmother-in-law who is sailing through pregnancy sans side effects; and Chace Crawford plays a father-to-be after a one night stand. Holding these diverse plots together are the occasional storyline intersections between the characters. 


As expected there is nothing new with What to Expect When You're Expecting. The story in What to Expect When You're Expecting is entirely predictable. And the constant switching between characters left me a little cold because I never grew to care about any of the characters. Still the film was light entertaining fare (apart for one "heavier" storyline). And occasionally certain scenes were very funny. I'm thinking of the "dudes group" a group of new fathers who meet in the park every Saturday with their offspring. The group is lead by the talented comedian Chris Rock who could probably just look into the camera and it would be funny. 


In short, What to Expect When You're Expecting is probably best enjoyed on DVD or on demand, rather than as a $10 theater feature film.