Life As We Know It (2010)
I’m a sucker for romantic comedies, and a huge fan of Katherine Heigl after 27 Dresses, so when I saw this advertised it wasn’t a tough choice to see it in cinemas.
Holly (Katherine Heigl) and Messer (Josh Duhamel) share a love-hate relationship filled with mostly hate. When mutual friends set them up, their date was disastrous to say the very least. The only reason they put up with each other is because they are the godparents to their friends’ baby girl, Sophie. When their friends are killed in a horrific car accident leaving Sophie orphaned, they find out that they were both named as Sophie’s guardians in the will, and now have to live together as they raise a child they both love with a person they can’t (really) stand.
Like I said before, I was first interested in this movie because I like Katherine Heigl. She’s one of those actresses that is always typecast, but she’s incredibly talented, I really hope people see her potential soon before she either leaves the business or does a film bad enough to destroy her (thus far) impressive career. Another reason this film intrigued me was because of its plot. It’s very unusual for a romantic comedy to have a realistically tragic set-up that’s not overdone or chosen specifically at a time when said tragedy is a real issue in the world. The idea that in the space of a few hours your entire life could change is always something that’s frightened me, but the idea that your life could change in the way that you are now responsible for another life is something that many of us never think about.
What I like about this film is that it’s a romantic comedy, yes, but it shows you the stress and the pain and the effort that it takes to raise a kid. Holly and Messer weren’t ready for a kid, they didn’t plan on one, both had futures planned out a few years in advance without children coming into play, ESPECIALLY not children with each other, and the film (thankfully) doesn’t gloss over this fact. Both Holly and Messer have their breakdowns and their tough times and they get over them in ways that are just as realistic and plausible.
Don’t let the initial tragic setup put you off, though, this film is very, very funny. Just as there is stress and pain and effort in raising a kid, there are also good times and laughter and things that are indescribable in words to anyone who has never been a parent (this film made me want to have a kid right now so badly I think mum was worried). And the way that Messer and Holly go from being reluctant roommates to good friends to lovers and to parents is a beautiful transition. Both actors do a fantastic job in both the comedic and the tragic aspects of the film. If you’re like me, then yes, you will get a massive crush on Messer. Yes, you will wish that you had a kid right the hell now. Yes, you will realize that you can’t have one just yet and be so happy with such a beautiful guy because, after all, this is a Hollywood romantic comedy.
Now, one final thing that made me truly adore this movie: Sophie. Sophie was played by triplets Brooke, Brynn and Alexis Clagett (technicalities in filming only allow for a certain number of hours that a young child can work, so usually for a film like this the children cast are twins… in this case they lucked out with triplets) and they did a fantastic job. Besides the fact that I thought Sophie was the most adorable child ever, she (or should I say they) was also incredibly expressive. It’s amazing to find adult actors who can make you go from laughing to weeping with a slight change of expression, but a child to do it – especially one (or three) as young as the Clagett triplets – is pretty much a miracle.
As far as rom-coms go, this is your typical deal: characters are faced with a dilemma, they dislike each other, they grow to like each other, everyone lives happily ever after. Yes, it’s the usual popcorn movie but it’s a good one. It has its aspects of toilet humor (once, thankfully) but its a clever script, is acted by talented people, is shot in a very pleasing way and is a very, very enjoyable film all up. And it hits emotionally. I cry in everything, y’all should know this from my blog and from the various other reviews on here, but I cry all the time. This film is no exception. It’s a beautiful film with a powerful message that I love to watch over and over again. I gift this film 7.5/10 and would recommend it to everyone. Yes, even guys. Now go forth and enjoy!!
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