Genre: Romance/Comedy
Director: Greg Berlanti
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Josh Lucas, Josh Duhamel, Christina Hendricks, Jean Smart
RunTime: -
Released By: GV
Rating: TBA
Official Website: http://lifeasweknowitmovie.warnerbros.com/#

Opening Day: 14 October 2010

Synopsis:

In the romantic comedy "Life As We Know It', Holly Berenson is an up-and-coming caterer and Eric Messer is a promising network sports director. After a disastrous first date, the only thing the two have in common is their dislike of each other and their love for their goddaughter, Sophie. But when Holly and Eric suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, the pair is forced to set aside their differences. Juggling career ambitions and competing social calendars, they'll have to find
common ground while living under the same roof.

Movie Review:

I don't understand the negative reviews that have plagued this movie. And I most definitely won't bludgeon this movie to death like most elitist critics who go with the majority.

Sure it is predictable, formulaic and a tad too cutesy at times. But for bringing a smile to my face after my long workday, I sure am grateful for it.

I'm not crazy about it. But I'm not afraid to say I'm fond of it. The movie's trajectory of a bickering odd couple who fall in love in the end is nothing new. But what keeps this movie afloat is the sizzling chemistry between current romcom It-Girl Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. And that's the main reason this movie works so well.

Duhamel and Heigl are at top form. Duhamel plays the bed-hopping Messer with a roguish swagger that is simultaneously annoying yet effusively charming, while Heigl plays the uptight but dreamy Berenson with goofy aplomb. They are equally delightful to watch when fighting and also when smooching.

Much of the fun is derived from seeing how Messer and Berenson fall apart when they can't get their act together, while sharing custodianship of their best friends' daughter, Sophie. The movie works best and comes to life when the two come together and square off each other based on their prejudices they have on each other.

What tends to be disappointing is the whole episode on rearing Sophie. Scenes of Messer and Berenson struggling with parenthood duties strain hard on believability and has the aftereffect of trying to “act cute”. These scenes strive to be funny but end up feeling over-the-top or bland. I would have appreciated some credibility in some of the child-rearing techniques shown here. And please, what's with baby nappy jokes?

Sure, baby Sophie is cute enough to melt hearts but she isn't anything more than that, a one-dimensional catalyst for Messer and Berenson to find out that they actually love each other's company. I would have liked Sophie to play a more active role in bringing the couple together, rather than being a giggly passive bystander. But I've got to admit I was quite welled up inside at the end when Berenson and Messer decide to get hitched.

What's nice about the movie is it seems to say that a little friction and squabbling can do relationships good. At least it embraces flaws than wholly indulging in idealism in relationships.

Movie Rating:

(Delight not in the infant, but Duhamel's and Heigl's infantile behaviour)

Review by Adrian Sim