When a young loner becomes the gestational surrogate for a single man in his 40s, the two strangers come to realize this unexpected relationship will challenge their perceptions of connection, boundaries, and the particulars of love.
Patti Harrison and Ed Helms star in this charming yet uneven comedy written and directed by Nikole Beckwith. Beckwith’s screenplay explores the topic of surrogacy which isn’t the most compelling subject matter but I adore the leads. Harrison is memorable in any role and while Helms is always reliable, I’ve noticed he’s been taking it easy the last few years, perhaps enjoying those royalties from “The Hangover” and “The Office.”
The story focuses on Matt (Ed Helms), a single man in his forties who hires Anna (Patti Harrison), a twenty-six-year-old to carry his child. After Anna becomes pregnant, they’re forced to navigate the awkward ups and downs of an intimate arrangement. Matt becomes a bit too preoccupied with Anna’s routine and her sex life, to which she comically reminds him “the baby isn’t in my vagina.” They begin attending couples therapy and deal with mild concerns like Matt over-analyzing which color the baby’s room should be.
The film is at its best when the pair are interacting with co-workers or random employees at a baby store or a doctor’s office. These scenes showcase the comic nature of their relationship and the slight absurdity of carrying a stranger’s child. Their blossoming friendship and chemistry aren’t contrived and the film questions traditional gender roles like when Matt is reluctant to throw a baby shower because he’s a man. While the supporting cast features comedic greats like Fred Melamed and Nora Dunn, playing Matt’s parents, which helped punch up the languid pace, they’re underused. Although I was interested from the first conversation, as the trimesters continued, the film became too stagnant.
In Select Theaters Friday, April 23rd, and on Digital and VOD May 11th
