Director: Gillian Robespierre.
Cast: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, Gabe Liedman, David Cross.
Certificate: 15.
Running Time: 84 minutes.
Synopsis: A twenty-something comedienne’s unplanned pregnancy forces her to confront the realities of independent womanhood for the first time.
Expanding her 2009 short of the same name, director Gillian Robespierre tackles the subject of abortion head-on, resulting in a clever, witty, charming and refreshing comedy firmly grounded in reality.
It’s no secret filmmakers shy away from one of the most controversial topics around; particularly when there is a studio involved. Universal Pictures ensured Katherine Heigl’s one-night stand resulted in a relationship and a baby in KNOCKED UP and 20th Century Fox had teenager Ellen Page give her baby up for adoption, rather than choose the alternative, in JUNO. With the backing of independent production companies Rooks Nest Entertainment, Sundial Pictures and Votiv Films, Robespierre has been allowed to explore the reality that women choose every day, and in comedic fashion no less.
Comedienne Donna Stern is a woman struggling with the expectations of getting older; pressure from her parents, a not-so-glittering career and a boyfriend who cheats on her with her friend and dumps her in the toilets of a comedy club. So far, so cliche. A drunken one-night stand with handsome Max (Jake Lacy) involving some condom misuse results in late periods, sore boobs and the realisation that Donna has a decision to make. That decision is where OBVIOUS CHILD excels. Donna knows her options and knows what is right for her, no one tries to talk her out of it or give away her child to a couple in need. She is resolute in her decision and, to the film’s credit, whilst she may waiver on her self-esteem, relationship drama and career decisions, her choice for an abortion is not the centre point of the story.
Instead of focusing on the decision itself, Robespierre centres her comedy on the relationships with Donna’s friends and family; a pretty oddball bunch who have one thing in common – their love for Donna. Seeing how her decision affects these relationships is the highlight of the film and is done with affection and compassion. One of the strongest relationship dynamics is that of Donna and her parents – the expectations of her mother’s reaction versus the reality packs a real emotional punch as the two learn more about each other and form a deeper bond.
The relationship between Donna and her one-night stand Max, which then begins to develop as the movie progresses, could be seen by some as a cop-out to the underlying feminist attitudes surrounding the movie, after all Donna doesn’t need a man to be happy(!). However, the relationship offers the viewer something precious by not stagnating, it offers hope. Jake Lacy is cute, funny and charming as Max and the chemistry between the two lead actors is nicely formed.
OBVIOUS CHILD isn’t a movie about abortion, it’s a movie about how a decision affects you and those around you. An important entry into the dramatic comedy genre, here’s a film you’ll be thinking about long after the credits have rolled.
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OBVIOUS CHILD is released in cinemas Friday 29th August.
