To be honest, “Life as We Know It” is not a romantic comedy featuring a surprise with no predictable plot. Moreover, entering the 2000s, it was still a promising Hollywood romcom things like luxury surprising and unpredictable plot? The fan of this genre should either widen their horizons into romcom Asia / Europe, or forced to content themselves – while lowering the standards – with a kind of absurd romcoms, starring Jennifer Aniston.
But for me, “Life as We Know It” is not bad really. The film, starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel is one of the bulk product is better than – say – Management, The Bounty Hunter, Love Happens and The Switch (oops, all his romcom Jen Aniston, huh?). I say this film is even better than Katherine Heigl romcom own, such as The Ugly Truth ‘and 27 Dresses (I have not see The Killers and Knocked Up are the exception).
Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) first met on a blind date arranged both their best friend: Alison (the juicy boobie from the series Mad Men, Christina Hendricks) and Peter (Hayes MacArthur). Due to the nature of the opposite, blind date that ended in disaster.
The opening scenes already provide information on each character. Holly business owners catering / cake shop that has a tendency to control and clean freak. In addition, because the romantic comedy genre this film (played by Katherine Heigl as well), of course he must be unmarried at the age of 30.
Eric, on the contrary. Handsome man who inexplicably chose vocalist “Black Eyed Peas” as his wife, the technician a particular TV station sports; very ‘guy’, class Womanizer snapper, haters commitment, easy going and very confident approaching arrogant. To highlight his Rebellious nature, he was asked was called Messer.
It sounds like the characterizations of “The Ugly Truth” is not for you?
Despite the mutual dislike, Messer and Holly so often met because each is a friend of Peter and Alison. At their best friend was married and had a daughter named Sophie (played by the heavy triplets are cute Alexis, Brynn, and Brooke Clagett), conflicts began.
With lethal film brave Peter and Alison in a car accident. This tragic event certainly makes Sophie, who just celebrated his first birthday, an orphan. Lawyer Peter and Alison Messer and Holly was called to deliver the couple’s wills. The contents of her will was that they donated their home on the outskirts of the Messer and Holly. Not only that, they also want this to be the mortal enemy of Sophie’s foster parents.
From here the movie would have been able to guess where her direction. Messer and Holly had been refused. But because of pity and affection for Sophie, they are forced to agree. Began the process of adaptation is the second single of things: 1) have a big house in the suburbs, 2) a parent, and 3) share the task of caring for Sophie.
Scenes that depict the process of adaptation is explored in such a way as to make the audience laugh, or at least smile about it. The scene change dirty diapers that are so often we see in movies comedy that? Of course there is here. Complete with its dramatization in which our parents (mothers) will not help wondering ‘ooo …, just so it “‘.
So is the scene where Sophie Messer was forced to leave on – get this – a taxi driver because he had become a producer of a prestigious basketball game. Hmmm, is it in America there is not no good daycare an hour two hours, huh?
Anyway, there is also a figure who would later become rivals plotted to Messer. This handsome guy is a competitor who must be given not less handsome to be aware if he really loves and takes Holly (oops, spoiler huh? Not really). And the role of these rivals fall into the hands of Josh Lucas, one of Holly’s cake shop customers who turned out – surprise surprise – Sophie’s pediatrician.
But remember, even though (should) handsome, actor who portrayed the character of this competition should not be ‘drowned’ main character. So, although good-looking (too), Josh Lucas still is not as yummy Josh Duhamel. Or Eric Winter is not a bad boy Gerard Butler (“The Ugly Truth). Or Patrick Wilson is not a freak Jason Bateman.
“Life as We Know It” is built from some cliched scenes (pursuit of true love that threatened to move to the city / other country in the airport? Totally check) which fortunately – or weird huh? – Do not make me yawn. This romantic comedy does not offer many surprises, but the execution is quite smooth and reasonable.
For example, the big question that must occur so Peter and Alison instead entrusted into the care of Sophie and Holly Messer that in fact do not get along with each other: it was this couple had no other relatives who could take care of Sophie? The good news, not just the film does not pretend stupid with pretend not to know the big question, but answer it with quite smoothly.
The Katherine Heigl romantic comedy filmography, her chemistry with Josh Duhamel in this film which I think is most cute. Uh, the two ding after Knocked Up with Seth Rogen that Butterworth was (I’m serious – and I love Seth Rogen!). Third with Gerard Butler in “The Ugly Truth.”
Like most other romantic comedies, Life as We Know It felt more like home-movie. It makes sense, because the director, Greg Beranti, more often wrote and produced series-TV series. Call it Everwood and series that had become my favorite, Brothers & Sisters.
In short, I quite liked this film. Although nothing special, but at least this film is not (too) to insult the intelligence audience as it has been brutally done other Hollywood romcom.
