By: Juan Barquin/Columnist
Jennifer Westfeldt’s contributions to the romantic comedy genre have been anything but conventional. With “Kissing Jessica Stein,” she explored the fluidity of sexuality far better than the Oscar-nominated “The Kids Are All Right,” and with “Ira & Abby,” she focuses on two unprepared people who rush into marriage.
Her latest feature, “Friends with Kids,” continues her trend of unconventional relationships by diving into the lives of two friends that want to have a kid together without the hassle of marriage.
Longtime friends Julie and Jason have seen the toll that having children has taken on their married friends. Both want children, but both want to avoid waiting for the right partner and having such an enormous strain placed on their relationship by bringing a child into the world.
It does not take long for them to come to the conclusion that the best option is to have a child together, while not staying together as lovers or a couple. Their platonic relationship is deemed perfect for parenting while maintaining a romantic single life, and the two dive between the sheets to make a baby.
The writing style that Westfeldt brings to “Friends with Kids,” which many would agree is much like something that Woody Allen might have penned in his early career, allows for just the right balance of comedy and drama. It is full of witty banter, and tackles relationships and parenting in an honest way that leaves one feeling refreshed and grounded, rather than expecting angels to sing when you meet “the one” like in every other movie.
While the film is her third time writing something she stars in, it also marks the first time Westfeldt has directed—and it is one that serves as a promising start. One might even say that in addition to her writing, the direction of this film is also influenced by Allen’s work, especially that of “Hannah and Her Sisters.”
Something that “Friends with Kids” can proudly boast is its colorful cast of characters, starting with its lead actors. Westfeldt stars alongside the talented Adam Scott as the two best friends, Jason and Julie. Both of their performances are entirely believable, making the progressing relationship between the two characters an interesting one to watch, but it is Scott who arguably gets one of the most intense scenes in the film.
The supporting cast is quite the collection, featuring a large handful of the people that made “Bridesmaids” the hilarious film it was. Chris O’Dowd and Maya Rudolph play the more lighthearted of the two couples and show audiences the hopeful side of a movie that does not seem to care much for marriage. Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm take the opposite route with their couple, diving into the darker themes that the film explores. Even Megan Fox, who might seem entirely out of place, finds just the right role for her as Scott’s love interest, proving that she is more than someone Michael Bay follows with a camera while robots fight.
The film does falter a bit in its ending, which features some very unfortunate closing lines that should have been cut. It also leans a bit toward the conventional, but it leaves the door open enough for further exploration of these two characters.
“Friends with Kids” may be Westfeldt’s directorial debut, but there is no doubt that it is a great effort on her part. It is a film that avoids falling into the realm of cliched romantic comedy through its witty script and great acting, and it is one that will be a refreshing break for those who want a slice-of-life movie that is not morphed into a fairy tale.
Juan Barquin is an intern for the Miami International Film Festival.
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