What to Expect When You're Expecting

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting” follows the journeys of five very different couples, who all have one thing in common—they are all expecting their first baby. These couples discover that the journey toward parenthood is a difficult one, with many unexpected bumps in the road, but it is ultimately the most wonderful and meaningful role that each of these couples will ever have.

The first couple we meet is Jules (Cameron Diaz) and Evan (Matthew Morrison), who are both reality television stars. Jules and Evan have to balance their busy lives and learn how to compromise as disagreements about parenting begin to surface. Wendy (Elizabeth Banks) and Gary (Ben Falcone) are a happily married couple who finally become pregnant after years of trying. Wendy is a maternity expert and author, who discovers that the pregnant “glow” is not as glamorous as she had always dreamed. Gary must deal with his tense relationship with his highly competitive, wealthy father (Dennis Quaid, and his trophy wife, Sklyler (Brooklyn Decker), when he finds out that Skyler is also pregnant but with twins.

We also meet Holly (Jennifer Lopez), a baby photographer, and her husband, Alex (Rodrigo Santoro), who are unable to have biological children, so they decide to adopt. Holly learns to accept her infertility, while Alex must face his fears about becoming a dad. Rosie (Anna Kendrick) and Marco (Chace Crawford) complete this ensemble cast as twenty-something food truck cooks, who are thrown into parenthood after a one-night stand results in pregnancy.

Positive Elements

The film’s central messages that each baby is a beautiful miracle and becoming a parent is a gift is the most positive aspect of this story. Throughout the movie, the expectant parents describe their unborn children as “miracles.” Motherhood and fatherhood is revered and looked upon as the most important job there is. These themes are refreshing and presented in a movie that takes a very candid look at the ups and downs of pregnancy and parenthood. Each couple in the movie can agree that even though parenthood can be difficult and often unglamorous, it is ultimately the most wonderful and fulfilling job in the world.

When Rosie and Marco find out she is pregnant, they decide to keep the baby and Marco asks her if they should get married. Marco tells her that he wants to “do the right thing.” We also see Marco embracing his role as father, when he joyfully talks to Rosie’s pregnant stomach and calls their baby by the pet name “peanut.”

Adoption is also portrayed in a positive light. When Holly and Alex go to Africa to adopt their baby boy, the adoption organization leads all of the families in a prayerful vow about promising to watch over their children and bring them up strong and proud. This vow of commitment to parenthood is ended with the phrase, “so help me God. Amen.”

All of the fathers are very supportive of their pregnant partners and committed to their roles as fathers and stand by them through the emotional and physical ups and downs of pregnancy. We also see fathers spending a lot of time with their kids. All the men of the “Dudes Group” get together and spend time with their kids. The men of the “Dude’s Group” help expectant father, Alex deal with his fears and doubts about he and his wife’s decision to adopt. One of the fathers (Chris Rock) tells him, “We love being dads. I used to think I was happy when I was young, but now I know I’m happy.”

Negative Elements

Even though the central theme of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” is positive, this positive theme is buried in a movie that is littered with a great deal of crass language and sexual innuendo. There is a lot of frank talk about the female anatomy, both in a biological and sexual manner. The anatomically correct term, v____a is used countless times throughout the film and becomes the subject of many crude jokes. The male anatomy is also the subject of many crude jokes, as well. In one scene, Gary’s father, whose much younger trophy wife is pregnant, jokes that “he doesn’t shoot blanks.” There is also a lot of frank and crude discussion about circumcision, as well. This film resorts to the typical crass sexual jokes, euphemisms, and double entendres that have become the standard for most romantic comedies. The crude sexual humor is pervasive and unnecessary to the film’s plot. This movie would have been much funnier without all of the crass one-liners. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” more than garners its PG-13 rating.

While the role of parenthood and the miracle of life are upheld and revered, the institution of marriage does not receive the same respect. Only two of the five couples are married, and it is revealed that one of the couples got married on a whim in Vegas (though this married couple did stay together and not divorce).

There are not any actual bedroom scenes, but they are implied. Several sets of couples are seen passionately kissing before the camera cuts to a different scene. There are many scenes that show too much skin. Many of the women in the movie walk around in bikinis, including Gary’s dad’s pregnant wife, Skyler. Jules and Evan, dance rather provocatively on a “Dancing with the Stars”-type reality show. Jules dances in a revealing bikini top costume. There are a few scenes that show shirtless men, as well. In one scene, Wendy’s assistant is forced to switch clothes with her, and Wendy’s dress is too small for her, so her entire bra is seen, because she cannot close the top.

In addition to the pervasive sexual talk, there is a moderate amount of curse words. There are about 20 or so uses of the s-word and about 5 uses of bull——. There is one use of the f-word and a handful of uses of the term, ‘effin’ in place of the f-word. The Lord’s name is misused more than 20 times throughout the film—OMG, “For Chr_st’s sakes,” “Oh G_d,” “G-damn,” “Jesus,” etc. Other foul language such as, h__l, b___h, and b_____d are also uttered. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” has some positive themes and genuinely funny moments, and I am delighted to see a Hollywood movie revere the role of parenthood and uphold the sanctity of life (when Marco and Rosie decide to keep their baby), but there is far too much crass dialog and sexual content for me to recommend this movie to Christian audiences of any age.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

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