Friends With Kids

plays in Celestial Cinema Saturday

plays with Tribute to James Marsden

(USA, 2012, 107 mins)

Producers: Joshua Astrachan, Riza Aziz, Lucy Barzun Donnelly, Jon Hamm, Jake Kasdan, Joey McFarland, Jennifer Westfeldt
Coproducer: Kathryn Dean
Executive Producers: Joe Gatta, Mike Nichols, John Sloss
Associate Porducer: Christine H. Kim, Missy Yager
Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Cinematographer: William Rexer
Cast: Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Maya Rudolph

Rated R

Some key performers from Bridesmaids join Jon Hamm (Don Draper from Mad Men) to create this skillfully acted ensemble piece, the story of a screwball let's-have-a-baby decision that has to get worked out for the better. Jennifer Westfeldt, who co-wrote and co-performed in the daring indie hit Kissing Jessica Stein, now takes the lead both in the writing and the performing. She's still pursuing some sharp contemporary questions. What do we choose when all relationship options are on the table? And what's the exact dividing line between friendship and love and… LOVE.

She and Adam Scott portray friends—Manhattan professionals living in the same apartment building—who agree, as friends, to create a child even though romance and desire just aren't happening. Indirectly implicated in their unfolding choices are their closest pals, two married couples who create kids of their own. The comic realism of this story rides on two rails. One is the question: which of the three couples can actually make parenthood work? The other is: just what kind of friends are these unwed parents, really?

Whatever status quo there is gets scrambled by the appearance of an actual boyfriend for her (played by Edward Burns) as well as a lover for him (Maui Film Festival award Iris award winner Megan Fox). How will this stack of blocks tumble into place?

- PW

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