Review of Friends with Kids (2012) by Spencer S — 02 Aug 2012

Jennifer Westfeldt deals with the complexities of waylaid human emotions in situations that are less than ideal. In her acclaimed "Kissing Jessica Stein" she covers the unorthodox concept of a straight woman beginning a lesbian relationship after falling for another woman.

Westfeldt always uses unusual social situations that turn out to be effective in social relationships years later, and really examines the complexities of human emotions within them. Yet again much of the dialogue, character development, and plot revolves around a single extraordinary set of circumstances.

What makes this film so much more heartfelt than her magnum opus is the fact that there is great character development. The cast is much bigger and brighter than she's used to, reusing much of the "Bridesmaids" cast for a really genuine environment for the characters to interact, friendships to bloom, and drama to enfold.

Westfeldt herself and Party Down's Adam Scott play friends who plan to have a child together and forgo the awfulness that marriage entails. Of course the concept is flawed by their own reluctance at revealing their true feelings for one another and it's uncomfortable throughout these bitter arguments and awkward moments.

I found the situations that Westfeldt puts these people into to be meaningful and thoughtfully done. There is a bit of comedy but it's based in life, especially the family situations of their friends.

Their couple friends are played by Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm as a couple without much recourse for a broken marriage (a darker role for Wiig) and Chris O'Dowd (The IT Crowd) and Maya Rudolph as a happily married couple with two kids who are overwhelmed yet truly in love.

The film explores the different kinds of families that exist, and looks at two truly screwed up adults who don't seem to understand themselves, let alone their capacity for love. It's a very beautifully made and thought film that examines, yet again, a greater issue with humility and humor.