Writer: Valerie Ong Hui Lin

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: "Three Men And A Baby" and "Kindergarten Cop"

The movie is about what happens to couples who make out without taking the necessary precautions. The story revolves around a couple, Ben (Seth Rogen) and Alison (Katherine Heigl), who meet at the disco, get drunk and spent the night together. Eight weeks later, the over-achiever career woman that is Alison discovers she is pregnant - thanks to the near-broke Ben who doesn't even have much of a day job. Her sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) takes her through the pregnancy test kit to finally ascertain that her life is taking a definite turn from her planned route.

Debbie and her husband Pete (Rudd) play the perfect role of showing Alison and Ben what the future would look like while trying to be a pillar of strength and guidance for the young parents-to-be. All four main characters support and bring out each other's role perfectly. This is especially in the scene when Debbie drags Alison and Ben with her to spy on Pete whom she thought is having an affair. Then there are scenes of female and male bonding where each gender faces up to the truths they are most plagued by.

The movie deals with real life issues with a pinch of humour, scoops of vulgar language and truckloads of realistic decision-making. It is one of the most watchable comedies this year. The director has not allowed any over-the-top situations to deflect us from the actors or the issues the movie deals with, like unexpected pregnancy, illicit affairs and one-night stands. You feel an overwhelming respect for his foresight at handling such delicate issues and dusting it with enough gut-wrenching humour.

The characters are playfully nudged from childhood to maturity - notably in the scene where Ben tries to get his team mates to set a deadline for website completion (his so-called day job) and as Alison makes a conscious effort to hang out with his friends and attends yoga classes. What I love about the process is that they both retain their original traits, like Ben's vulgarity - which he uses on Alison's gynaecologist when he couldn't be reached as Alison is about to go into labour.

Look out also for the 'crowning' glory in the birth process. Those scenes will definitely give National Geographic a run for the money.

Cinema Online, 23 September 2008