Review of I Don't Know How She Does It (2011) by Thomas W — 19 Oct 2011

I'm not sure if the filmmakers of I Don't Know How She Does It were trying to be the FIRST to make a film about how hard it is to be a working mother or not. The frantic pacing and sense of urgency the film presents itself with compels me to think the filmmakers were under the impression that this might be the most important film to come around in years.

It is because of this that the film fails like it does ... had it simply been another movie about a hard-working mom juggling career and family it probably would have worked better; but the in-your-face/she's a saint theme is played-out and this film's Kate (Sarah Jessica Parker - Sex and the City, The Family Stone, Ed Wood) is just like every other cinematic working mom (although this one talks with her hands more than any other person in history).

There is nothing to dislike about Kate -- she is wonderful at both of her jobs (motherhood and financial consultant) and SJP is a competent actress; but we've seen this on screen before and in our own lives.

The film isn't as bad as the critics would leave one to believe because there are some quality moments (even though it becomes mildly-preachy, too cliched and sooo formulaic) and the cast is all watchable.

Kate's put-upon (yawn) husband is played by Greg Kinnear (As Good as It Gets, Auto Focus, The Kennedys); her co-workers are Pierce Brosnan (Goldeneye, The Thomas Crown Affair, Mamma Mia!), Olivia Munn (Iron Man 2, Date Night) and Seth Meyers (SNL, American Dreamz, Journey to the Center of the Earth); and her best friend is the beautiful Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, Drive, Life as We Know It) who opens the film with a short narration .

.. and well, the entire film could have been her talking and I'd have been better off with it. There are moments of I Don't Know that seem if they are going to pull the film out of the tried/tested/murky storylines that have come before (Munn's Momo had the opportunity to be "different"); but it always found itself heading back down the already-traveled cinematic roads (I'd have typed paths .

.. but they have been used so-often in film that they are definitely ROADS by now). I know what the film wanted to do; but I don't think it pulls it off. The film is at its best with the scenes between Parker and Hendricks as two working moms unloading upon each other as only women can do and Hendricks has ALL of the intelligent insights that ever-so-slightly elevate the film.

Other than that ... it is all blah, blah, blah. Yes ... we know it is tough and I respect those that do it -- but we didn't really need this movie to reaffirm that.