Obvious Child

The romcom Obvious Child has been hanging around Netflix for a few years, and rightfully so, for it tackles with comedic insight another enduring cultural staple, "the one-night rebound stand after the breakup." It will take only 84 min to see how writer-director Gillian Robespierre can make this serious subject and its constant companion, abortion (Will she or won't she?), comedic and socially acceptable to discuss on a casual date.

Of course, the other reason Obvious Child is a success is its lead, Jenny Slate, playing stand-up comedian Donna Stern. Slate is natural, self-effacing and cute, not quite smashing but attractive enough to make our experience pleasant and sympathetic without being awestruck by abnormal beauty and charisma.

Besides giving varying degrees of standup, from bright contemporary topics to her abortion, funny to bomb, Slate has a sweet charm that makes you want to be a part of her life while she also makes you chuckle. Not hilarious, just smile inducing as we get used to her candor with her anecdotes that make us sometimes uncomfortable but always empathetic.

The boyfriend who dumped her, Ryan (Paul Briganti), is scruffy and unfaithful while one-night-stand Max (Jack Lacy) is all-American and much nicer than he has to be, probably one of the best rebounds in romcom history. You could do worse than watch this on a pandemic night; it sure will take your mind off our viral reality.

It's amazing when a director's first movie is as nearly perfect as this one is. It's a marvel. It's richly funny and touching and entertaining, but it's also exactly what we as a society need right now.

Until I saw this, I hadn't noticed the extent to which the conservative nuts have turned abortion into something so vile that even its supporters are afraid to talk about it as anything but an evil last resort. It's unbelievably refreshing to spend an hour and a half in a world in which abortion is not only an acceptable alternative to childbirth but the healthy and valuable medical procedure it is in fact.

Thank God for Gillian Robespierre and the wonderful people who helped her make this movie. Jenny Slate (obviously) and Gaby Hoffmann, whose strength as an actor grows with every movie she makes, deserve special praise for their fantastic performances.

The trouble with conservative Christians is that they don't believe their own religion. If they did, they would have no objection to abortion, because it delivers the unborn child from this painful and dangerous world directly into the arms of their loving Father forever. Christians preach that God, but they don't really believe in him.

If Christians believed their own religion, they would not reject or judge anybody; they'd embrace everybody, because that's exactly what Jesus did. Jesus welcomed everybody who came to him, especially sinners; he judged and excluded nobody. He preached love and healing, not judgment and condemnation. Christians have traded their loving God (the only true god) for a false god of vengeance and terror who's no better than Allah or Kali.

The performance of Jenny Slate is the key of seduction in the case of this lovely, deep honest film. Like the performance of each actor, like the shocking end , because, inspired by title, you expect than abortion be excluded option in last moment. But the film has its way . And it gives a fascinating portrait of freedom, love, loneliness, friendship, new start, a youn woman in a box , a closed bookshop and relations with parents - the special job of Richard Kind. So, I love it !

I don't think that this is a ground-breaking film by any means, but it's certainly more interesting what what its plot summary makes it sound like. I guess it's very straight-forward, but there's a lot of good comedy in here, some witty banter and some strong characterization from the lead character. The performances are also really good, and they do feel lived-in, both realistic yet unique to the screenplay's voice. In many ways, this film reminds me of a more grounded Frances Ha, if maybe less funny and with a more likable female protagonist. Overall, this isn't anything amazing, but it certainly gets the job done, definitely recommended.

Making a movie that seems authentic is hard in this day and age considering what films make money and what films don't. Most of the time audiences don't feel like watching a film deal with real issues when they can just watch a summer blockbuster, but Obvious Child is an incredibly effective real film.

Jenny Slate gives an incredible lead performance of a woman who is a struggling stand up comedian and dealing with personal issues to go along with it. After going through a break up she has a one night stand with a complete stranger, who also happens to be a charming and genuinely nice man. Slate and Lacy have great chemistry together on screen, even if it's dependent upon dirty and crude humor. Speaking of dirty, if the films opening doesn't have you laughing than it's probably not for you. The jokes can be a bit much at times but that speaks to the bond these two strangers have built over a short period of time.

It also treats abortion with care while never really leaning to one side of the spectrum or the other politically wise. Comedically it's on par with a lot of straight up comedies, but it separates itself by having true moments of drama. Props to the entire cast for creating these real characters who everyone can relate to. I think Jenny Slate will be a powerhouse in comedy if she chooses the right roles for herself. Obvious Child is a great short little indie film that's definitely worth watching.

+Slate's star making performance

+Real characters

+With real dramatic situations

+Good mix of comedy and true emotion

-Humor a bit over-the-top at times

8.4/10