“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.” – IMDB
A platonic rom-com. Let me clarify…
For all of the millions of rom-coms in the cinematic universe, rarely does one focus on platonic love. On the romance of falling into a friendship. Building a friendship has many of the same qualities as building a relationship: excitement, talking all the time, insecurity. It’s a topic that is taken for granted, even as it acts as such a central part of our existence. This movie, which follows Anna (a surrogate) and Matt (the single father), is sweet, quiet, and tender. A movie that is refreshing for the soul because it focuses on real life issues, while not wallowing in the bleaker parts of it.
The movies delves into the issues of pregnancy, surrogacy, sexism, but, again, does not dwell on these. Instead, it shows how these topics play themselves out awkwardly and also hilarious in real life. Real life can be uncomfortable, but it can also be ridiculous and funny. I think the movie was greatly helped by the casting of comedians in almost every roll. It brought levity into even the more dramatic scenes and Patti Harrison and Ed Helms expertly weaves between the lighter and heavier moments of the film.
It was sweet watching these two characters awkwardly build their friendship, even amongst a unique and uncomfortable situation. It also encourages us to remember that some friendships are meant to last, while others are meant for a particular time in our lives.
Overall, as you can probably tell, I thought this movie was just incredibly sweet. I found it honest yet uplifting to watch, and it is probably a movie I’ll watch when I’m feeling a little down on myself or the world.
Rating: 8 out of 10 Claire Bears
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If you like this movie, you should also watch: Happily, The Friend
Streaming: Available to buy or rent
With: Patti Harrison, Ed Helms
Directed By: Nikole Beckwith
Let Me Clarify 