Expect nothing!

When I first watched the trailer for this movie, I thought the film would join the ranks of successful comedy ensembles such as Bridesmaids, Horrible Bosses and more relevantly Knocked Up. But Kirk Jones tackles one of life’s most joyful and agonising experiences … pregnancy … and directs a stillborn. 

What to expect? Absolutely nothing.

Not only did the trailer give away the best moments of the film, but Jones must have thought the disappointing movies Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, by director Garry Marshall, were worth playing homage to, by using an all-star cast and saddling them with clichés.

In an obvious effort to monetise the bestselling book of the same name, the story follows five couples as they each prepare for the responsibilities of parenthood. 

Fitness guru Jules (Diaz), and Evan are a celebrity couple who are trying to balance their high-profile lives with an unexpected pregnancy. 

Baby photographer Holly (Lopez) and her hesitant husband Alex cannot conceive and decide to adopt a baby from Ethiopia. 

Rosie and Marco, who both operate food trucks and used to be high school friends, reunite and after a one-night-stand of passion end up carrying the results of the encounter.

Maternity expert and author Wendy and her husband Gary decide to stop trying to conceive after two years, yet she surprisingly finds herself pregnant soon after.

And lastly, former race car driver and Gary’s father, Ramsey, with his much younger wife Skyler, discover that despite their 30-year age gap, they are also expecting … twins.

If that wasn’t enough, Chris Rock joins the cast as the leader of ‘The Dudes’ – a group of dads that provides Alex with advice on being a parent. Although this group may be hit or miss in terms of comedy, it didn’t matter because the film wouldn’t have changed in the absence of their pointless appearance. 

I found myself confused and trying to focus on the different stories and characters throughout.

Although the film still works hard to showcase the various emotions and journeys both the women and men go through, and tries to connect to those who may have found themselves in a similar situation, it only succeeds in delivering 110-minutes of confusion.

Jones focuses too much on the complexity of the circumstances, which made the movie drag 30 minutes too long, in my opinion, and took away from the light-heartedness that it needed.

It is predictable and fans of the cast will no doubt have hoped for more, or even better.

At times there were moments of heartfelt drama but the underwhelming storylines took away from the performances and the use of slow, sad music was needed for the audience to feel any emotion.

If you’re a parent-to-be, you won’t find any useful advice here, but if you’re looking for a long, boring and familiar comedy, then What to Expect When You’re Expecting will be just what you’re expecting.  

*Showing in Cineco and Seef II