Obvious Child

Though I didn't laugh at many of the jokes & initially thought "Oh dear god, not another film/tv show proving that girls can be every bit the vulgar slackers that guys are", these young NY hipster-types won me over w/ realistic conversations that are interesting enough to eavesdrop on, & by being - unlike the narcissistic cretins in Girls - generally pleasant people to be around. It's also goddamn refreshing to watch a film portray abortion as the wise and positive thing it is.

A romantic comedy about abortion? Yes. While it follows romantic comedy tropes, the heaviness of abortion is alleviated by focusing on how it affects a new relationship. Actually, it's refreshing to see abortion treated in this manner.

Has moments of interest to punch through the romcom trappings. I'd like to see more of her work though.

Not too unlike other shambling indie character studies, but this one is well served by strong narrative focus (it's about a woman being faced with pregnancy and abortion) and a good script. Robespierre doesn't let the film become a political statement by handling the story with sensitivity and honesty, and Jenny Slate gives a wonderfully natural and charming performance.

A disappointing "comedy" with generally unlikable characters, Obvious Child could have been so much more

Jenny Slate is going to be "Kristen Wiig Big" one of these days, I can feel it. And in this one you can catch glimpses of her potential as a comedic lead. That said, her standup is/was dreadful, even for her "amateur comedienne" character. Off-stage, she shines, as do many of the solid supporting cast of well-known faces. Especially enjoyed the Elizabeth "She's Having a Baby" McGovern stuntcasting. Watch out Paul Rudd, Jake Lacy has his eyes on the, "Aww, he seems so nice!" prize.

Finally, a film where abortion is not treated as a shameful, world-ending political platform! Jenny Slate is one to watch as a weird, hilarious, likable, and complex comedienne trying to get through the world's worst Valentine's Day. Hopefully THIS is the future of rom-coms...

Jenny Slate's great performance is what keeps this one grounded. She sells the film's jokes (which often aren't all that good), her easygoing standup persona makes the on-stage scenes particularly brilliant and the way her bubbly persona cracks in the sadder moments makes it all the more affecting.

It's a romantic comedy of sorts, & although it does follow a lot of the conventions of the genre, it's different enough that it still feels fresh. It takes an approach to abortion I don't think I've really seen on film, & I appreciated it. The major appeal the film has is from its star, Jenny Slate. She's very charming and funny, but also able to pull off the vulnerable side of the character. The script probably could have done with a bit of fleshing out, but I found it pretty enjoyable overall.

I was a bit worried when I found myself not laughing much at what I went into expecting to be a straight comedy, and, I wasn't immediately sold on Slate. Luckily as it moves on, both of these things changed: I was laughing more (though it became very clear that it wasn't just a comedy), and I bought into Slate a lot more. The whole "I'm pregnant" revelation was a bit rushed perhaps, but that was followed up really well and the whole flick was more than entertaining enough to keep me invested.

It's a modest little comedy-drama that benefits from emotionally authentic and sensitive writing and winsome performances from its stellar cast. Plus it's an abortion story that's actually mature. Very promising debut from Gillian Robespierre.

Quite charming comedy that takes an upright view of modern romance and abortion. Refreshingly blunt about it all, but the actors bring a lot of warmth to it. Can be a bit stylistically homogenous at times, like most comedies but some shots are beautifully composed.

One minor (and unnecessary) overly constructed plot-twist aside, 'Obvious Child' is quite simply adorable, with Jenny Slate as its heart, soul, and filthy voice. Brave in subject matter, clever in writing, this is laugh-out-loud funny.

One of Jenny Slate’s best movies. I cried and laughed equally.

Not a perfect film, but, then, a perfect film about a drunken breakup and drunken sex would probably be terrible. Flips several Hollywood conventions on their head, while still maintaining some unnecessary drama - even if some of that drama is unconventionally achieved. Many hilarious smaller moments, though. Believably awkward (though heightened). Could very well be terrible with a worse lead actress. Thankfully strips all of the drama out of the abortion itself and lays it on expectations.

Hard to not find the main character hilarious, preposterous and entertaining.

As with most of these movies the stand-up they have the character doing is real bad except for like the pissed off drunk set. That was $$$ but everyone hated that. A little too convenient for most of it and people saying there's no political angle to this kind of movie. Come on now.

The best parts of this film are honesty and low-key moments that hit the mark that we hope tidy endings or exciting confrontations do. This one's about the journey, surely. It delicately keeps itself away from revealing too much about Donna's internal needs, keeping us watching, hoping the best for her. It wants to be longer, not in runtime (its kinda brisk) but in the sequences that really pay off, the settling into whatever it shall be between our two leads and their quite watchable rapport.

This is a good film with an excellent performance by Jenny Slate. Slate carries the film and it would not work without her strong performance. The script is good and unpredictable. Overall I would recommend this film.

Obvious Child ist deninitiv eine Komödie und ja, sie handelt auch von einer Abtreibung. Im Herzen geht es aber um Jenny Slates wunderbare, tolle, unglaublich witzige Hauptfigur Donna! Ihre Unterhaltungen und wie sie heimtückisch von Gefühlen "überfraut" wird... die ganze Rezension sowie unsere liebsten Offbeat Romantic Comedies gibts auf der Seite unserer Videothek cinegeek.de

The performances and earnestness of the intent is so much better than the quality of the 'humor,' which strains so hard to be Louis C.K.-like that it's, at times, painful to witness. Still, points for its realistic dialogues and for avoiding many tropes of the genre.

I like small stories about incendiary social issues. How an individual life bends from the impact of a problem that politicians declaim for/against (either way, usually without empathy). Grandstanding rhetoric in films always makes me uncomfortable. I'd rather be lured by the experience of a protagonist, such as Donna Stern, struggling with a simple question: when presented with this problem, how do I do the right thing? In short, this is how films should talk about abortion.

A sort of female/feminist version of Sleepwalk with Me. I disliked every single character and hated this 'witty-New York-hipster' type of humor. Slate indeed looks a lot like Anne Frank, and now I can't get image of Anne Frank talking like drunken sailor out of my head. Now the 'good' part of the film is abortion. I learned a lot about it, for example having and abortion is not as bad as moving to LA; virtually every woman had one; and next day after illegal abortion you can go dancing!

"Obvious Child" isn't terribly fresh in formula outside of its admittedly bold comedic approach to the controversial topic of abortion, but it is nonetheless both a funny and mature picture.

Funny, tragic... Human.

Wow New York is too cold for me. No thank you.

Less of a straight comedy than it was marketed as, but it was still good for some laughs. What's better though, is that it's a very honest movie about going through an abortion. It takes some chances in that regard, and I think it works out well.

its refreshing and really funny comedy with a bit awkwardness. one of the best movies of 2014.

It's really a story of how complicated life has become. It is a subtle film of protest - that you can have it all. The message of the film is too neatly packaged for me to buy into. But aside from the all-too-perfect bow that this film ends with, the acting depicts the real struggle of how complicated our decisions in life can be. The scripting is loose and meanders at times, but all to show that the things we all perceive to be obvious should not always be assumed as such.

This was so sweet and sincere. Jenny Slate is definitely someone to watch, her performance was nuanced, but very good. The way they handled the topic of abortion was both thorough and funny. Plus, this kind of blew its graceless, overwrought peer Juno out of the water in terms of comedy and plot...

Never leaves its comfort zone. Just kind of a bland movie, in my personal opinion. All the male characters in the film feel very cardboard. Personally just couldn't relate to it enough to care much.

Obvious Child is a funny movie that tackles controversial subjects and very well might make many members of its audience feel awkward, offended, or mad, depending on how you were brought up, what your current thoughts on things are, or even perhaps the culture in which you live. Even if it's not for you, it'll make you think. It has a great lead, a lot of humor scattered throughout, and doesn't even come close to overstaying its welcome. Obvious Child is worth seeing.

The story that Jenny Slate's mom tells about having a 1960s-style abortion is basically the plot to 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days.

A very entertaining comedy that is funny, realistic, and uncomfortable...much like life. The acting is quite excellent, especially by Jenny Slate who won't get any credit come awards time but probably should (even if it's mentions on snubs lists).

Ultimately forgettable but very mature, balanced, and solid. Slate is perfect.

(TWO GIRLS, A GAY GUY, AND AN ABORTION CLINIC.)

i found myself wanting this movie to go on a lot longer. jenny slate is great and i love the in-depth and honest portrayal of the abortion process. bechdel test: obvs 3/3

Slate gets my vote for at least one of the performances of the year because she played the awkward, kinda messed up, comedian really really well. She was charming as shit and her chemistry with Jake Lacy was incredible in a very subtle way. The movie was funny at times, handled the romance and abortion aspects with maturity and wit. A clever film, reminded me a bit of the show Louie in tone because it can make you feel uncomfortable one moment then crack up the next.

This is a movie about an abortion, and why it's difficult, and why it's sometimes necessary. Although the plot is quirky, the topic is approached with refreshing maturity.

One problem I usually have in movies that portray standup comedy is that the standup isn't that funny (think Funny People). It was refreshing that the comedy wasn't a problem here, and I found Jenny Slate (and the other small standup portions) hilarious. She's *very* charming, and the chemistry between the leads is excellent. The only thing I would categorize as a problem is that it's a very quick watch, and zips through the resolution of the "problem". Other than that, very fun movie.

It seemed really great when I was drunk and I think I even compared to Naruse in my head but only because it like, has an abortion. Definitely too short and kind of slight, which feels sort of wrong to say about a movie depicting something like this. Again, I was drunk.

This movie can be very awkward in spots and the humor was very miss for me, but damn if Jenny Slate and Jake Lacy don't have amazing understated chemistry together. The movie is at its best when those two are on screen. Otherwise her parents are good, but I didn't really care for her friends at all. Plus David Cross' scene was just weird. Felt like he was trying to make more out of his scene when there wasn't a lot for him to work with. Actually most of the screenplay could have been punched up.

A much better version of Juno, where the lead is likable and actually says funny things and instead of keeping the baby decides to abort it. It also has some nice thoughts on guilt and shame, and tastefully shows why there's no shame in having an abortion because you accidentally got pregnant and aren't ready to be a parent.

A realistic and fully refreshing rom-com with a point of view and an excellent turn by Jenny Slate.

Slate is absolutely perfect.

A very funny and oddly genuine comedy that also happens to be about Abortion and one of the most prochoice movies I've ever seen.