Few films are able to encapsulate the ebbs and flows of life as effortlessly and accurately as "Friends with Kids." The fleeting nature of relationships that we become entangled in while trying to find the "perfect person" is a sad and frustrating journey indeed. The idyllic fairytale romance is effectively a farce in today's modern romantic world; it's a world of drive-thru marriages and celebutante obsessions. "Friends with Kids" is a reminder of the realities of dating in 2012.
Best friends Jason (Adam Scott) and Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) have a strictly platonic relationship, that is until their friends quickly enter the world of parenthood one by one. In order to follow suit without the complexities of getting romantically involved, the two plot to conceive a child and split custody 50/50. The pair watches as the relationships around them falter, all the while dating myriad, temporary romantic flings. But the more they play the dating field, the more they realize how perfect they are for one another. Albeit all too predictable, the film comes off as genuinely funny and honest.
Of course, it's hard to ask your audience to relate to the central characters when said characters are elite New York City socialites, but the central themes remain universal. Whatever routes you take toward love, there will be a series of neverending obstacles along the way. Whether you go the more conventional route of getting married and having kids — or merely have a kid with your best friend and use the child as a catalyst to attract divorcees — there's simply no shortcut when it comes to love.
The film as a whole is only as good as its collective parts, but "Friends with Kids" happens to have a fantastic supporting cast. Of course, the leads perfectly complement one another. Scott, of "Party Down" and "Parks and Recreation" fame, is brilliant in this, as is writer/director Westfeldt. Hot off the heels of "Bridesmaids," Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig play best friends Leslie and Missy, respectively. If you're more into eye candy, there's something for both sexes to drool over in this. "Mad Men" heartthrob Jon Hamm and drop-dead gorgeous megababe Megan Fox are both thrown into the mix. However, in a film with such comedic powerhouses, Chris O'Dowd (also of "Bridesmaids" fame) firmly secures the award for the film's funniest character.
Name-dropping aside, the script itself is the real standout here, with poignant, funny and realistically clumsy dialogue that reminds me of Judd Apatow in a way. This method of having more ad-lib dialogue creates a more realistic atmosphere, which I adore. Most romantic comedies are so heavy-handed in the way the lines are delivered. "Friends with Kids" is far more complex. It's a progressive and original concept with a cast who has an undeniably organic chemistry with one another. Again, the whole elitist Manhattan jet-setting lifestyle is all too ridiculously absurd for my liking, but I appreciate the film for its more genuine qualities. It's sweet and gentle in parts, yet brutally honest and borderline uncomfortable at times.
I feel as if "Friends with Kids" may fly under a lot of people's radars. Don't let its formulaic appearance fool you, though. This is a romantic comedy with some teeth. I wasn't expecting to be as fully sucked in as I was, but it's a film with a good amount of depth and hearty laughs to boot. Also to note, it's a truly ideal date movie given qualities that will assuredly appeal to both sexes. Don't miss it.