2010
PG-13
112 minutes
**
The old âinherit a babyâ gag has a long cinematic tradition. âLife As We Know Itâ offers another take by combining a trite rehashing of parental ineptitude jokes with an odd couple romantic comedy. As you might imagine, the result is just awful. And not even in a fun way.
Holly (Katherine Heigl) and Messer (Josh Duhamel) are two chronically single people set up on a blind date by their respective best friends, committed couple Alison and Peter. Holly is a little black dress wearing, professional baker who likes to mention the fact that she was in a sorority. Messer (his surname) is a motorcycle riding, sports broadcasting technician and Id-controlled slut. The date ends five minutes in when he accepts a booty call right in front of her. Holly storms off, saying she never wants to see him again. But sheâs shit out of luck, because Alison and Peter get married and breed. Holly and Messer become honorary Aunt and Uncle to the offspring. Forced to spend countless hours together at every family function, they tease each other with the sort of cruelty that can only mean they secretly want to bone.
One year later, Alison and Peter Novack fall prey to that popular Hollywood Orphan Maker, the fatal car crash. Holly and Messer are shocked to learn that theyâve been appointed custody of the Novackâs daughter, Sophie. Astoundingly, their best friends never thought to tell them that they might one day become insta-parents. Furthermore, it seems ill-conceived to choose two inexperienced single people who allegedly despise each other to raise your kid together. Though to be fair, they might not have had much of a choice. At the funeral, Holly and Messer meet the Novackâs shitty neighbors (including a sassy fat lady and a gay stereotype couple) and incapacitated family members (itâs funny when grandpa canât breathe!). Perhaps they did the right thing. Since Holly and Messer loved their friends and love Sophie, they decide to suck it up and play house. Luckily, they also inherit the Novackâs beige mansion so at least their hardships take place in suburban cushiness.
Naturally, what follows are typical scenes of incompetence and inconvenience. Changing a diaper is hard! Feeding a baby is messy! Childrenâs music sucks! Babies never let you watch the game in peace! Thereâs never time to get laid! Their neighbors impart platitudes about poop and lack of sleep. Underneath all of these clichĂ©s, there inevitably brews a love story. Though Holly enjoys a brief courtship with a handsome pediatrician, it can never work because clearly sheâs meant to be with the insensitive commitment-phobe. Convenient, since they have custody of a child together.
Iâm not sure why these people donât have any friends or family to help them. The neighbors stop by but mostly just to talk smugly and ogle Messer. I guess heâs supposed to be really hot or something. No wonder heâs so slutty. People are constantly throwing themselves at him. It must be hard to refuse poon when itâs handed to you on a silver platter. Holly is pretty much the only one who doesnât want a piece of that ass. Though sheâs no prize pig herself. I think people intend to cast Katherine Heigl as the relatable Every-girl. However, either the Every-girl is a vapid, uptight beyotch, or Heigl is incapable of disguising her natural personality. Then again, Hollyâs bakery is called Fraische. Itâs like âfreshâ but pronounced âfray-shâ. Who could like a person like that?
Only in the movies do people fall in love with people they hate. If constant arguing and childish insults are indisputable signs of true love, then Holly and Messer are Romeo and fucking Juliet. They fight constantly. They fight over parenting styles and scheduling conflicts. They fight about how uptight she is and how he is a skanky ho. As they argue over whose life inheriting a baby inconveniences most, little Sophie watches them and cries. Hilarious! And so romantic!
What sets âLife As We Know Itâ apart from other rom-coms is its fresh view on fighting in relationships. Holly and Messer find a home movie of Alison and Peter arguing the day they brought Sophie home from the hospital. Theyâre relieved because they viewed their friends as ideal parents. That means, they decide, that hostile arguing in front of the baby is totally fine. Later, the perfect boyfriend overhears Holly and Messer fighting and he breaks up with her because he spots their venom as a surefire sign of true love. âIf my [ex-]wife and I fought like thatâ, he tells her, âweâd still be married.â So antagonism is not only OK for babies, itâs also the basis of a stable marriage. Be that as it may, itâs not very fun to watch two people fight for almost two hours.
With all this well-worn territory, the writers could have at least attempted to do something unique with the ending. But no, itâs another fucking race to the airport. Why do they always need to get to the airport? Doesnât every single person in western civilization own a cell phone? Notice I didnât dignify that with a spoiler alert. Thatâs because if you couldnât figure out the ending from the trailer, then I canât help you.
Originally published on FilmThreat.com.Â
