Movie Review: Life as We Know It

Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel in Life as We Know It. Photo / Supplied

Rating: 3/5
Verdict: A few good laughs but not many surprises

The arrival of a baby is a terrifying experience for any new parent, no matter how much planning there was beforehand. Life as We Know It takes this idea to the extreme. A light and predictable romantic comedy, it stars - surprise! - Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel (Fergie's spunky husband). They meet through respective best friends but don't hit it off and continue to despise each other. When, three years later, their friends die in a car crash, Holly and Messer are stunned to discover they've been named joint guardians of their friends' 1-year-old daughter, Sophie.

The set-up is as contrived as the ending is obvious. And you'd think the late Alison and Peter might have mentioned something as important as guardianship to their friends. But that wouldn't make the ensuing onslaught of gags about sleepless nights, "poo soup" nappies, and the challenges of child-rearing quite so funny.

It's not just the baby they have to get used to, but living with each other (and we know where that's going to lead) and accepting that life as they knew it is over.

Heigl and Duhamel work well together, with her playing the attractive control freak role that she mastered in Knocked Up and 27 Dresses, while Duhamel builds on the sports-loving bachelor he attempted without much success in When In Rome.

They bicker well, look good on screen, and their inevitable relationship is convincing, even if amid the baby food and job pressures there's not a lot of romance.

While there is plenty here for mums to laugh in recognition at - and much to encourage contraception among everyone else - Life as We Know It still paddles at the shallow end of the pool. It may have more complications than your typical rom-com, but is more light escapism, than realistic love story.

LOWDOWN

Cast: Josh Duhamel, Katherine Heigl, Josh Lucas
Director: Greg Berlanti
Running time: 114 mins
Rating: M (sexual references)

-TimeOut