Star Rating:

What To Expect When You're Expecting

Director: Kirk Jones

Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Falcone, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro

Release Date: Monday 30th November -0001

Running time: 109 minutes

How many different ways can you say the word "vagina" in a couple of hours? Frankly, who hasn't wondered that at some point? This purposely light, easily digested ensemble comedy is more of a distraction than a film; but the cast are likeable and there are enough funny moments to pass the time. Lads that get dragged to this will rightfully be pissed off, but should find themselves guiltily chuckling also.

Chronicling the lives of several couples in varying stages of being up the pole, this star heavy production plays like He's Just Not That Into You with baby bumps. Similarly structured; the recognisable cast feature the usual eclectic array of young, old, black, white and Jennifer Lopez all wanting/dealing with being knocked up.

Expect a lot of reviews saying they weren’t expecting much and got pretty much what they expected. While the phrase "chick flick" may not be a popular one nowadays, What To Expect When You're Expecting really is the quintessential one. What saves this production from utter banality is smart casting and nice turns by some of said cast members. Diaz is perfect as the control freak celebrity fitness instructor, and the character template follows pretty much from there. Matthew Morrison's snake like hips are put to good use as a professional dancer, with Elizabeth Banks the pedantic housewife. The only really place where 'Expecting' suffers casting wise is having Jennifer Lopez playing someone supposedly likeable. C'mon, who's buying that?

It works sporadically, sure, but director Jones knows what he's doing and tonally it never veers off course. It definitely peaks whenever Chris Rock and his crew of baby carrying fathers turn up, and whenever they're not on screen you're kinda wishing they were. Bridesmaids star Ben Falcone too is great, and I would've liked to see him play off the other guy characters a bit more. He's got real potential as a leading comic actor.

Expect lots of women discussing their vaginas. Expect men being disgusted by talk of said vaginas. Expect... ah fuck it, that's all I have. It's grand.