Film Review: Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm Consider ‘Friends with Kids’

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CHICAGO – Jennifer Westfeldt created a distinct movie persona in her debut in 2001 in “Kissing Jessica Stein,” but she has been generally off the radar since then. Her choice for a major film re-emergence is as a nebbish career woman with less memorable character traits. She also directs Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox and Maya Rudolph in “Friends with Kids.”

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

The film is pure New York City fantasy. It presumes that old friends, played by Westfeldt and Adam Scott, can work out a deal to have a child and share the parenting responsibilities. The level of buy-in it takes for such a set up is the definition of a stretch, and the inevitable will-they-or-won’t-they premise has been severely used up in TV sitcoms. However, the screenplay that Westfeldt penned does not shy away from couples, marriage and raising kids, and has some good moments from Jon Hamm.

Single career gal Julie (Westfeldt) is part of a very close group of friends, including her long time buddy Jason (Adam Scott of TV’s “Parks and Recreation”). Her married friends include Leslie (Maya Rudolph) and Alex (Chris O’Dowd), who are new parents and are still getting used to it. Ben (Jon Hamm) and Missy (Kristen Wiig) are a hot couple, and can’t keep their hands off each other. Four more years go by, more kids are added to the mix of both couples, and only Julie and Jason are still single. Perplexed by the changes in relationships and lifestyles of their married brethren, the two uncoupled friends decide to have a kid and split the parenting time and responsibilities.

This arrangement throws a wrench into the other couples, as they contemplate their attraction to each other. Situations are further complicated when Jason starts dating a dancer named Mary Jane (Megan Fox) and Julie finds divorced father Kurt (Edward Burns). Ben and Missy begin to unravel, and tensions come to a head at a ski weekend gathering of all the various types of couples. At the same time, is it possible that Julie and Jason are becoming closer than friends?

“Friends with Kids” opens everywhere March 9th. Featuring Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Megan Fox, Chris O’Dowd, Adam Scott and Edward Burns. Written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt. Rated “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Friends with Kids”

Adam Scott (Jason) and Jennifer Westfeldt (Julie) in “Friends with Kids’
Adam Scott (Jason) and Jennifer Westfeldt (Julie) in “Friends with Kids’
Photo credit: Jojo Whilden for Roadside Attractions

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Friends with Kids”

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