Friends With Kids Review

• 13th Nov 2012

Everyone believes it.  Everyone has this smug view when you pass couples battling with prams on escalators amongst gigantic overfilled bags of baby goods fighting over where the car is parked, what to cook for dinner or something that seems equally as mundane to you that whilst on some level saddened by their circumstance, above all you feel without a doubt, thankful that this will never be you.

Now we’ve seen these types of films before.  Rather than a teenage coming of age theme it’s more the 20/30 something’s coming of family scenario.  Where groups of friends become divided as husbands, wives and babies are added as fast as jager-bombs, cigarettes and irresponsibility in general are removed.  Where discussions move from the almost relentless consistency of nights out partying to the slightly concerning consistency of baby stool.   Westfeldt has taken this genre and given it a facelift.  If you can look beyond the unbelievably stunning ensemble (I dare you to try) you will see that whilst there is no denying the large dash of Hollywood here, there is also a whole load of heart and a very sufficient amount of heart ache.

Jason (a very smart and snappy Adam Scott) and Julie (played by the very talented  Writer/Director Westfeldt herself) are best friends from college who formulate a plan that they believe as smug singletons will keep them at a safe distance from the giant hole that seems to be devouring their close group of seemingly unhappily married, child rearing friends.  The plan of course is not without flaw as they both embark on a journey to conceive and raise a child together whilst looking for true love elsewhere.

Whilst it would be amazing to believe if I were in Julie’s situation my first sign of true love would come in the form of Ed Burns (I’m sure his character had a name but let’s be honest, Ed Burns is Ed Burns and I pray shall always remain so) and I’m sure there’s not a man on the planet who wouldn’t be more than delighted (as Jason obviously was) after he bumped into none other than Megan Fox walking through central park.  One must wonder though, could it be that for a woman who wakes every morning in real life alongside John Hamm this truly is how she feels the whole world is.

All jokes regarding the extremely pleasing aesthetics of the cast aside though, these guys really work beautifully together.  It’s very clear that there are strong friendships beyond the set and this along with a high class of both dramatic and comic skills really set this romantic comedy in a league of its own.

Kristen Wigg shows us there is definitely much more to her than a bumbling bridesmaid (though I’m positive no one expected any less).  Maya Rudolph glows with her own unique style of mildy hysterical not so sweet but all caring understanding.  Chris O’Dowd is as sincere, silly and loveable as ever and John Hamm is…..well….all you could ever dream of and want in a man….and very good in this film too.

Westfeldt has really nailed it.   If you want to watch a classy rom com full of beautiful people with a strong dash of honesty and a whole lot of heart this is the film for you.  If you’re a cool and edgy self-proclaimed realist (maybe someone who never truly grasped how Monica and Rachel could afford that apartment in Manhattan) then I recommend the front step outside my local KFC at about 1.30am for a suitable dose of real life action.

Kath Haling