Life As We Know It (2010)

People are voting emotionally.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The acting in this movie is really good.

I love Katherine Heigl anyway she is a brilliant versatile actress. Teemed up with the gorgeous Josh Duhamel I knew the film was going to be good. I loved it. OK we have had similar plots of orphan children being left with single mums etc so the plot isn't knew, however, teaming up these two who actually hated each other on sight after a failed blind date was going to be fun. Yes it was sad, and I cried, but I laughed so much as there are some really funny moments like seeing the motor bike travelling across the road without a rider and then omg the bus was priceless and yes funny oh and so many other funny bits. Its a story of love, and family and acceptance and awakening. I cant understand anyone giving this film a bad review. I shall watch it again, a rare gem really funny, good love story, and a happy ending, what is not to like.

Life As We Know It (2010): Dir: Peter Berlanti / Cast: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Britt Flatmo, Melissa McCarthy: There is nothing about this lame-ass romantic drivel that could not be recited within five minutes. It regards those unpredicted circumstances that invade your life in which you are not prepared, such as sitting through the entire running time of this sh*t. After an accident, Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel are left to care for the orphaned one year old. Never mind the fact that these idiot friends seem to believe that these two individuals should be together despite the fact that they really dislike each other. Not to worry though because as formulas go, they will grow to love each other and accept the responsibility while filling some viewers with gitty feelings while others reach for the vomit bag. Director Peter Berlanti attempts to deliver a message about the struggles of parenting but the screenplay clearly is just a jerk-off formula driven travesty. Heigl wants to expand her bakery. Duhamel wishes to be promoted in the sports directing field. Both have situations where the baby becomes a burden, plus that case worker who shows up at the most inopportune moments. They also have those ever familiar diaper changing dilemmas as well as Heigl getting food spit in her face. In supporting roles are Josh Lucas as a doctor whom briefly romances Heigl, and Britt Flatmo as a "baby whisperer." We also have Melissa McCarthy as a mother who in bad blood with these two idiots. As life has it, this film is cheap and contains not a shred of originality. Go figure. Score: 2 / 10

Greg Berlanti dramedy invokes little laughter, whilst dealing with more intense life issues on a superficial purely functional level. Married couple with child Peter (Hayes MacArthur) and Allison (Christina Hendricks) ill-advisedly set up their respective best friends on a date. However the uptight restrained Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is the ultimate mismatch for free-spirited kid-adult Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel). After the shortest date ever the duo come to a mutual understanding that any proximity is only forced by necessity. Unfortunately, when Peter and Allison die in a tragic car accident, their will pinpoints Holly and Eric as the sole guardians of their baby child and their estate. Despite the uneasy relationship the two decide to enter into a rugged deal, living together apart for the sake of the orphaned child. Suddenly thrown into parenthood both struggle to cope. Slowly enter romantic clichés.Will droll humour struggling to entice, instead attenuating attention, Berlanti attempts to find refuge in the easy streets, throwing in pretty sub-standard gags based on smelly kiddy poop to somehow garner any laughs. Probably the only well stringed together scene features Eric singing "Creep" by Radiohead as a lullaby to the entertained child. Unfortunately the tragic demise of the child's parents is formulaic and truly utilitarian, introduced as a gadget to have two independent soles suddenly thrown into dealing with an infant, aimlessly seeking laughs such a situation may cause. More dramatic issues such as curtailed freedom and necessity of opposites to cooperate fail to feature as the driving force of the uninspired script. Complications along the all converge to the expected point, but no depth is afforded to bring out the potential warmth and heart such a concept offers.The best on offer is the sympathetic and typically neurotic Katherine Heigl, who manages somewhat to focus attention. Unfortunately however her co-star Josh Duhamel fades into the background, barely registering as a character. Thus lacking true wringing drama, the movie also fails on fall on the shoulder of a romantic comedy, as the chemistry between characters is non-existent throughout, while baby toilet humour is bound to fail as a saving grace.

Fixed up on a blind date by mutual friends, a bakery shop owner (Katherine Heigl) and a womanizing bachelor (Josh Duhamel) share an instant dislike; but, after their friends are suddenly killed in a car accident, the bickering un-sweethearts discover they've been awarded joint custody of the couple's infant daughter (along with their expansive two-story home--mortgage-free!). Awesomely-extended romantic-comedy-with-child is occasionally overbearing and written at a tasteless level, with the usual quota of poo-poo jokes and slung baby food. The leads, along with a colorful cast of supporting players, certainly make it tolerable (Heigl, in particular, is very adept with the changing rhythms of the film's bumpy tone), but it's a wasted effort. Director Greg Berlanti steers the final act to a feel-good finish, but even this commercial bow seems tied too tightly. ** from ****