Friends With Kids

Released: June 29th 2012

Directed By: Jennifer Westfeldt

Starring: Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Maya Rudolph

Certificate: 15

Reviewed By: Ben Harris

Best friends Jason (Adam Scott) and Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) decide to have a child together whilst keeping their relationship strictly nonphysical to avoid the strain a child has on a romance relationship – an example set by friends Alex (Chris O’Dowd) and Leslie (Maya Rudolph), and Ben (Jon Hamm) and Missy (Kristen Wiig).

To begin with, ‘Friends with Kids’ wraps itself around comical set pieces – awkward sexual encounters and child-induced stress take priority. However, a tonal shift bogs down the latter half and the clichéd script switches the mood to all out seriousness. Of course, it keeps the film grounded but the humour is completely abandoned and threatened to change the film into a fully-fledged rom-com. Thankfully the cast keep you engaged forwards the foreseen conclusion.

Jennifer Westfeldt and Adam Scott make a strong leading couple. They both have their own charm and bring a sense of normality. O’Dowd and Rudolph have their moments but are generally underdeveloped as are Hamm and Wiig, who sadly don’t have much screen time.

All in all, ‘Friends With Kids’ is a well-constructed debut from Westfeldt. Her observations are funny, touching and hugely relatable but it wouldn’t have done any harm to push the boundaries a little.

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