I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT

US, 2011, 95 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan.
Directed by Douglas Mc Grath.

This is an easy film to watch about working mothers and wives. The underlying theme of how a woman manages with family and home as well as a high-powered job pervades the whole film with the repetition of the title (from a popular book by Allison Pearson with a screenplay by Aline Brosh Mc Kenna who wrote The Devil Wears Prada as well as We Bought a Zoo).

Confession: never a great fan of Sarah Jessica Parker (not just because of Sex and the City). But, she is very likeable as Kate in this story of an investment expert who is continually landed with tasks by her boss (Kelsey Grammar), frequent trips away from home in Boston, as well as lots of meetings. At home are two children, one who is little enough to accept what happens, the other a girl who has reached that pouting, silent treatment age. Also at home is a nice husband (who is also very successful at his work, gets a promotion, so no rivalry issues), played by an actor who is usually smilingly genial, Greg Kinnear. Even when he has reason to complain or be upset here, you know he is going to be nice.

Then comes a big (very big) opportunity which requires lots of time, travel and strain. Fortunately, the man in charge is also quite charming and genial and is played by Pierce Brosnan.

One of the pleasures of the film is the voiceover of our busy investor, wife and mother. There are also frequent to camera opinions from friends and some catty mothers from school as well as her straight-faced workaholic assistant who finally undergoes a complete makeover (motherhood-wise).

In many ways, this is all as might be expected. However, there is good will all round (except for the catty mother) and so solutions can be worked out, especially when Kate is able to stand her ground with the boss.

So, serious light comedy which husbands can accept (or they ought to be able to) and which women could take for some role modelling in coping and communicating with the family about work and its demands.
1. A pleasing variation on the romantic comedy style and themes? Middle-aged characters? Concern about work and family? Preserving marriage?

2. The Boston settings, Boston life and business, homes, the contrast with the New York business world? The cityscapes of New York? The relaxations in New York? The musical score, the songs?

3. The title, the number of times it was repeated, the comment about busy women, about busy wives and mothers?

4. The voice-over, the personal tone, the ironies? Emotions and frustrations, hopes and disappointments? Revealing Kate?

5. The characters talking directly to camera, Kate’s friend and confidante, the mothers at the gym, Momo and her serious comments, Bunce and his criticisms?

6. Kate and Richard, a happy couple, their talents, work, good at their work? The children, the daughter, her age, criticisms? The younger boy? The daily routines, meals, preparing for work? The role of the nanny, caring for the kids, their bonding with her? The daughter and the silent treatment? The introduction with the cake, buying it, decorating it, the comments of the other mothers? The various trips away from home? Kate’s boss, imposing on her? Richard and his concern about the promotion, his success? Richard at home? Kate and Richard and their age, life, crises?

7. The proposal, the meeting, Bunce and his taunts, the boss, his praising Kate? Kate winning?

8. Pierce Brosnan as the business chief? Kate’s email, the mistaken email and its tone? Her going to New York, meeting him, her lice and the message, her scratching? Momo as her assistant? Talking, the plan, the development? The preparation for the pitch to the head financial man? Their time together? Business, plans, late hours, the outing, the attraction, Kate and her response?

9. Pierce Brosnan and his character, work, life, the pitch, the lunch, the proposal, Kate’s friend – and the added-on happy ending?

10. Momo, her personality, appearance, efficiency, her fear of being touched, her relationships, pregnancy? Kate’s enthusiasm? Giving birth – and Momo’s reaction?

11. The family crises, Kate hurrying to the hospital, the phone calls, the flights? Talking things over with Richard?

12. The party, the birthday, Kate’s parents, their comments?

13. Thanksgiving, the trip, away from business, the phone call, Kate taking it, her leaving?

14. The importance of the pitch, Momo, the Power Point, the photos of the foetus? Panic, success? The boss and his response to Kate? Going to lunch – and the invitation for her to join them?

15. The boss, his work at the office, Bunce, toadying? Kate and her standing up to the boss? Winning out?

16. Kate and Richard, talking through the conflicts, succeeding in working out how their lives could work? A light-hearted but serious look at wives and mothers, their work, coping?