Review of Friends with Kids (2012) by Joel M — 11 Aug 2012

We all have them, "kids". O wait, no we don't. But we definitely all have "Friends with Kids". So why not develop a movie on how it is to have friends with kids? Innovative? MMM, not so much. Disastrous? I would not go that far. Writer-Director Jennifer Westfeldt's brainchild cinematic creation "Friends with Kids" does have some witty moments, but then it falls into the trap of providing a formulaic romantic-comedy finale. The movie stars Westfeldt and Adam Scott as Julie and Jason, longtime best friends who surround themselves with married friends that have (are you ready for this) KIDS!; what do you know! Julie and Jason decide to want an offspring of their own, but with no romantic strings attached. So they hit the hay, and get it made. Their "strings attached" married friends think what they are doing is ludicrous, and that it will turn out to be a nightmare for them. But it actually turns out to work after all for Julie and Jason that is until the heartstrings start playing with Julie's affection towards Jason. Westfeldt does a credible job with the whole balance of the interlocking themes of marriage, friendship, and kids in the picture. And for the most part, Jennifer does inseminate a trendy-like screenplay to "Friends with Kids". But then "out of Westfeldt", she pains the movie with a very predictable ending. Westfeldt's acting as Julie was solid, but it was Adam Scott that really gave this friendly picture its biggest asset with his scene- stealing performance as Jason. Scott is consistently turning out standout performances in the last few years. The supporting cast of "Friends with Kids" is comprised of recognizable actors who are all formidable, but it seemed as if they were primarily doing the movie more to hang out with thespian friends with kids or no kids, than for the work itself. Jon Hamm (Westfield's real life partner) and Kristen Wiig portray Ben & Missy, who go from a nymphomaniac married couple to a bickering one after the kids come in the picture. Chris O'Dowd and Maya Rudolph play Leslie and Alex, another married couple that go from loving moments to stressful ones after they have their little ones. Edward Burns and Megan Fox also drop in on the "Friends with Kids" as lovers of Julie and Jason, respectively that is; whatever that means. "Friends with Kids" is not a kiddy rom-com picture that should be totally ignored, but I would not go out of my way to take my friends or my kids (wherever they are, kidding) to give it a view.

*** Average.