I wasn’t expecting much from What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and it’s a good thing because this movie really doesn’t deliver. It’s one of those movies that suffers from too many plot lines and too many stars — Jennifer Lopez, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, Chris Rock, Chace Crawford, just to name a few. Based loosely on the best-selling pregnancy manual, the movie focuses on five couples who are expecting. Four of them are in Atlanta and one is in Los Angeles but of course they are all somehow connected. (Frankly, we could have done without at least two of the couples.) Throw in the gang of park-walking dudes/daddy support group led by Rock and it’s all just too much going on.
Aside from the over-stuffed cast, the movie has a tendency of copping out whenever a dramatic plot point could develop into something truly poignant. That’s fine if it wants to be a straight out comedy, but unfortunately most of the jokes fall flat too. The audience at the screening I attended was almost completely silent and at one point, there was an audible gasp of shock/disgust at what was supposed to be a “funny” moment. The only time I really laughed was whenever Rebel Wilson appeared on screen. The Australian comedian/actress (she was also one of Kristen Wiig’s roommates in Bridesmaids) was the best thing about the movie, and hers was just a supporting role.
I’m not sure exactly what target market this movie is going for exactly — pregnant 30-something women I guess. But I suspect even they won’t be amused or moved, unless the pregnancy hormones are raging. Skip this one.