Obvious Child

When asked about my 20s, I tell people it's a decade-long roller-coaster of mayhem, mistakes, memories and maturity. The decade where you learn about the real world, learn from one's actions and its consequences. Oh, and learning that ex-boyfriends don't really pine over you for the rest of their lives.

This is where we find Donna Stern (Jenny Slate) in OBVIOUS CHILD. Fidgeting at the gates of the dirty thirties, Donna's in an emotional crisis right now. Her boyfriend just dumped her for her girlfriend (whom he had been seeing behind her back). The bookstore where she works is closing down, placing her in the unemployment line and she's worried about not being able to afford her rent. In addition, the relationship with her mother Nancy (Polly Draper) is still complex but luckily, Donna's relationship with her dad Jacob (Richard Kind) keeps her balanced. And last but not least, Donna's recently discovered she's pregnant. With Max's (played by Jake Lacy) baby. He's the one-night-stand 'piss-farter' she met at the bar where she's performs her stand-up comedy routine.

As a way to figuring out everything in her life right now, Donna talks about these relationship issues with her friends both on and off stage. And like any irrational, insecure woman who has recently been dumped, Donna also tortures herself by drunk dialing her ex-boyfriend and 'stalking' his house to see if he'll exit with her ex-friend. 'Just one more sip' she says after each sip of her coffee until Ryan (Paul Briganti) emerges with said friend in tow.

Donna finally turns the maturity corner after inadvertently meeting preppy nice guy Max following her disastrous stage performance, and subsequently falls pregnant from their one- night-stand. The surprise pregnancy steers the film in a more controversial direction when, after carefully considering her circumstances, responsibility and readiness to be a mother, Donna decides to abort her pregnancy.

Don't think this subversive rom-com makes a mockery of abortion. It doesn't. In fact, first feature director Gillian Robespierre handles the abortion plot point with finesse: placing it in a relatable context that seriously considers the consequences of the protagonist's actions whilst weighing it against the reality of responsibility and unstable circumstances. And despite the stigma surrounding such a decision, Slate's character remains resolute in her choice throughout the rest of the film. It strengthens the ideal that it is okay to make such difficult decisions particularly when it's in one's own best interest.

It's not often one has an opportunity to watch a film about abortion that is so refreshingly candid, yet comically relatable, that you can't help but praise Robespierre and her perspective of a late 20s woman whose life so far, isn't turning out quite the way she thought it would. Literally. And like Donna's temporary spiral out of control in OBVIOUS CHILD, that's okay because eventually, you'll manage to steer yourself back on track.

In a nutshell, OBVIOUS CHILD is a sharply written comedy that unashamedly addresses real life issues with a walk down memory lane moment in there for everyone.

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

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 !