Film News South Africa

Life As We (Don't) Know It

People expect happy endings and that's what we give them but is this really 'Life As We Know It?' Do the tragic circumstances of an accident leaving an orphaned baby in the care of their respective best friends hold a reality spectrum for falling in love? Anyway, that aside, this is a pleasant romantic comedy with a predictable outcome but one that we can enjoy.
Life As We (Don't) Know It

The plot develops around two single adults Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl), who is an up and coming caterer and Eric 'Messer' (Josh Duhamel) a sport TV technician, who become the caregivers to Alison (Christina Hendricks) and Peter's (Hayes MacArther) one-year old daughter, Sophie, when they die in a tragic accident. They can't figure out why their friends have entrusted them with this huge responsibility but in the line of duty decide to take the call.

Heigl and Duhamel are definitely an attractive pair in the film and the two can barely stand each other after several failed attempts by their mutual best friends to set them up (because of his obnoxious womanising nature and her uptight guarded cynism) until they are forced to set aside their differences for the sake of Sophie.

We've heard that opposites attract and that's nice but we're already getting off to that predictable wrong-foot start. The infamous after hours 'restaurant scene' by candle light and the ever impending 'airport scene' that we know so well make its appearance so don't get annoyed because you know this is what a romantic comedy is all about except in this one they didn't really sign up for changing diapers and picking up after a baby that's not even theirs.

This is what makes it humorous, entertaining and enjoyable between the two of them. Added to that is a social-network of mix-ups and the social worker who keeps knocking at their door at the wrong time which are all part of the mindless humour not forgetting that triangle theme we love so much, Dr Sam (Josh Lucas) who conveniently comes onto the scene in Holly's complicated life.

The film offers a shot at creating a new scenario for the sought after love and life every traditionalist dreams of although in modern times it may not be happening in the very traditional way. Even movies like 'The Back-Up Plan' with Jennifer Lopez and 'The Rebound' with Catherine-Zeta Jones give us alternate cases to the chances of 'happily ever after' which seems to be the latest film trend when it comes to romantic comedies.

About Zeenat Ebrahim

Zeenat Ebrahim is a freelance writer with four years' experience in online editing. She is a UCT BA Graduate in Film Studies and Media & Writing.
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