LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

US, 2010, 114 minutes, Colour.
Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas.
Directed by Greg Berlanti.

Every year there are quite a few romantic comedies. Here is another one. Katherine Heigl has appeared in quite a few of them in recent years, 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth, Killers. Here she is again.

It is easy to criticise this kind of popular genre, dismissing it as providing ‘chick flicks’, condemning it as trite or an indulgence in sentimentality. This reviewer saw the film with a paying audience, about twenty to thirty late teenage girls mostly and realised that they were really enjoying it, often laughing out loud at dialogue quips and the familiar jokes about babies and adult helplessness in looking after them.

Babies is the key idea. Life as they knew it for Holly (Heigl) and Messer (Josh Duhamel) was predictable. She, a control freak, who is a great cook with a popular and profitable bakery, he a television sports director who feels himself carefree and sees himself as a sex magnet (which he is). Holly and Messer are the close friends of Peter and Allison who have a young child, Sophie. They do not get on well together – to say the least.

When Peter and Allison are killed in a car accident, they are named in the parents’ will as the guardians for Sophie. Can the hostile Holly and Messer really undertake bringing up baby, taking their responsibilities seriously?

There is a lot of familiar (but often enjoyable) jokes about crying, spitting – and a good example of nappy changing where nothing is actually seen but the comedy is entirely in the focusing on Holly and Messer. Visual restraint is possible, and works.

Josh Lucas is in the background as a sympathetic doctor whom Holly likes. But, as you will guess, he does the right and gentlemanly thing and steps away as the odd guardian couple, change and fall in love.

An easy-going, generally pleasant look at the importance of children and family and the possibilities for love and commitment.

1. The popularity of romantic comedies, battle of the sexes, falling in love, babies and family?

2. The congenial stars?

3. Atlanta, the city, Fraiche, the sports studios and arenas, doctors, the suburbs? The four seasons? The musical score, the songs, the lyrics?

4. The title – and change?

5. The introduction to Holly and Messer, the date, her dressing up, his being late, the bike, getting into her small car, the clash, getting out?

6. Peter and Alison, friendship with Holly and Messer, the collage of their encounters, the speech and Messer kissing the woman, the wedding, the photographs, the pregnancy, the baby, the birthday? Setting up Holly and Messer as types?

7. The news of the accident, the effect on each of them, going to the hospital, the audience’s mood with the deaths? The issue of care for Sophie, the phone calls, the visit of the lawyer, the information about the will, their reactions, puzzling about Peter and Alison’s intentions? The deal, the alternatives? Accepting, committing themselves to Sophie? The court sequence? The visits of Janine, the interrogations and their effect?

8. The collage of care, the baby problems, the baby jokes, crying, not accepting Holly’s food even though she was a chef, Messer and the popcorn, the changing of nappies, baths? Worry about Sophie’s hernia, going to the doctor? The variety of moods, Sophie and her beginning to walk, Holly hurrying from the bath to see it? Talking?

9. Holly and her life, her skill with food, catering, her being affirmed by Alison’s friends, extending the shop to a restaurant, the difficulties with money, Messer offering to lend them money (and her not finally using it)? Sam, his visits, her flirting, the card? The phone calls to find Sam? Encountering him later with Sophie? The clashes with Messer, the battle of the sexes, the lists and the rosters, having time off? Sam suggesting the drink, the effect of the drink? Janine’s arrival?

10. Messer as a free spirit, womaniser, picking women up, antagonism towards Holly, his skill at TV sports direction, his getting the opportunity, having to bring Sophie to the studio, the cabbie and wanting him to look after her, his failure? The second chance? The offer to go to Phoenix, his acceptance? In the supermarket, Holly watching him and his approach to attract the girls?

11. The visits of Janine, preparations for her visit, her judging them and their capacity for caring for Sophie?

12. The supermarket, Messer showing his skills in flirting, even with Holly? Their going into Peter and Alison’s room, the video of the two quarrelling? The sexual encounter, the pot, the consequences, Janine’s next visit?

13. Messer and his going to Phoenix, the effect, the street party and the Cat’s Whiskers, talking with Holly and her being upset?

14. Holly, the friendship with Sam, the bond, Messer’s visit, Thanksgiving, their fight, everybody listening in, his leaving?

15. Sam as a decent man, recognising what was happening, the attraction to Holly, letting her go?

16. Holly hurrying to the airport, Janine urging her on? The failure to get through, the plane leaving, their return? Messer and his being at the airport, watching the videos of Sophie, the compliment about his family? His return to the house?

17. Sophie’s second birthday, the cake for their first anniversary? The future?

18. The range of friends, the neighbours, the gay couple, children, advice?

19. The ordinary situations – and audiences identifying with the characters, and with the baby situations?