Maybe Baby (2000)

A comedy about a couple (Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson) who are trying to conceive a child.

Director:

Ben Elton

Stars:

Joely Richardson, Matthew Macfadyen, Hugh Laurie

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joely Richardson	...	Lucy Bell
Matthew Macfadyen	...	Nigel
Hugh Laurie	...	Sam Bell
Adrian Lester	...	George
Yasmin Bannerman	...	Melinda
Joanna Lumley	...	Sheila
Rachael Stirling	...	Joanna
Dave Thompson	...	Dave the Comedian / Mrs. Furblob
Emma Thompson	...	Druscilla
Stephen Simms	...	Trevor
John Brenner	...	Kit
Jaz Wilson	...	Baby Cuthbert
James Purefoy	...	Carl Phipps
Guy Barrett	...	Nigel's Posse
Deila Bhujoo	...	Nigel's Posse

Storyline

Sam and Lucy Bell are a married couple who seem to have it all: good looks, successful careers and an enthusiastic love life. The only thing they lack is the one thing they want most - a baby. They try everything in their efforts to reproduce: New Age chanting, acupuncture, creative lovemaking... but all this hectic schedule achieves is improvement in their cardiovascular systems. Ovulation charts soon replace spontaneity, when the couple reluctantly deliver themselves into the hands of medical professionals. At the same time, as Sam comes to find his job increasingly unfulfilling, he sets his sights on writing a screenplay, but writer's block strikes. Encouraged to 'look within' by his hippie friend Druscilla, Sam is inspired: he will write a comedy about a couple trying for a baby! But Lucy is horrified at the idea, and forbids him to tell their story. Sam and Lucy's love for each other, the most important thing they both have, will now truly be put to the test...with surprising ...

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Plot Keywords:

baby | writer | writer's block | writing | screenplay | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Polish distributor official site to Maybe Baby Siren Entertainment (australia)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asyllipto moro!

Filming Locations:

Albert Bridge, Battersea, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$8,351 (USA) (24 August 2001)

Gross:

$8,351 (USA) (24 August 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pandora Cinema, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 96 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emma Thompson only worked a day.

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Goofs

About 34 minutes into the film, there is a scene in a restaurant. In one shot, there is a waitress at the table, and another one setting down plates at a table in the background. The camera cuts away for less than two seconds upon th arrival of a character, then cuts back, but with both waitress prematurely gone.

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Quotes

Druscilla: [performing a fertility ritual while Lucy giggles] Womb, womb. Stop laughing. Flow, flow.

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Connections

References Shooting Stars (1993)

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Soundtracks

"I Don't Wanna Fight"
Performed by Westlife

User Reviews

A long sitcom – but still gently funny and sweet

BBC producer and scriptwriter Sam is married to Lucy and are trying for a child. As they try all sorts of methods to improve their chances, Sam's work begins to suffer until it is suggested that he write about something close to his own life. He begins to develop a script based on his and Lucy's attempts to get pregnant – without her knowledge. However prying into he diary for more info he gets more than he bargained for.

A BBC film this features so many stars of BBC TV comedy that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a sitcom with high production values. In fact much of the plot and the laughs come very much from the sitcom school of writing, albeit of a slightly higher quality. There are quite a few very funny bits, plenty of saucy moments and jokes and some very soapy, sweet bits. It does feel like a sitcom with high ideas – although it still manages to be gently entertaining, if never exactly brilliant in any sense.

Laurie is good without showing the wit that made him famous, while Richardson is very good back in a British film. The rest of the cast is made up of big stars like Lumley, French etc in all sorts of role and then a host of faces where you'll be struggling to remember where you saw them – I got at least two Eastenders actors in very small roles.

Overall if you like UK sitcoms then this'll be right up your street (and a little bit better than what you're used to), if you don't then this is very slight but it still might win you over.