Obvious Child (2014)

A twenty-something comedienne's unplanned pregnancy forces her to confront the realities of independent womanhood for the first time.

Director:

Gillian Robespierre

Writers:

Gillian Robespierre (screenplay by), Karen Maine (story)

Stars:

Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann

10 wins & 29 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jenny Slate	...	Donna Stern
Paul Briganti	...	Ryan
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Nellie
Stephen Singer	...	Gene
Richard Kind	...	Jacob
Polly Draper	...	Nancy Stern
Gabe Liedman	...	Joey
Jake Lacy	...	Max
Cindy Cheung	...	Dr. Bernard
Ernest Mingione	...	Waiter
Cyrus McQueen	...	Stand-Up
David Cross	...	Sam
Maciek Jasik	...	Cabbie
Jennifer Kim	...	Female
Suzanne Lenz	...	Female #2

Storyline

For aspiring comedian Donna Stern, everyday life as a female twenty-something provides ample material for her relatable brand of humor. On stage, Donna is unapologetically herself, joking about topics as intimate as her sex life and as crude as her day-old underwear. But when Donna winds up unexpectedly pregnant after a one-night stand, she is forced to face the uncomfortable realities of independent womanhood for the first time. Donna's drunken hookup - and epic lapse in prophylactic judgment - turns out to be the beginning of an unplanned journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

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Plot Keywords:

abortion | pregnancy | f rated | divorced parents | based on short film | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Twitter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

Entre Risos e Lágrimas

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$77,315, 8 June 2014

Gross USA:

$3,123,963

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,325,417

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rooks Nest Entertainment, Sundial Pictures, Votiv Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Gillian Robespierre' directorial debut.

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Goofs

Right after the lunch scene at the Italian restaurant, when Max accidentally steps on the dog poop, a man crosses the street wearing a red short sleeve shirt followed by a woman wearing a short sleeve shirt and shorts, when it's supposed to be winter in February, and Donna and Max are in their full winter gear.

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Quotes

Donna Stern: I can't believe he walked into the store. That's a sign.
Nellie: And that would be a sign saying?
Donna Stern: Like, that I'm a present in a box, and that he and I should go and start our beautiful life together.
Joey: You know, I'm not a straight guy...
Donna Stern: [sarcastically] Oh what?
Joey: ...but my guess is that most of them would hate that gift.
Donna Stern: What? You're saying that a guy doesn't want a drunk, pregnant girl in a box?
Nellie: If you're a serial killer.
Joey: Maybe you wanna tell him.
Nellie: No. Why? Why? You don't owe him anything. You don't even ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Underrated Rom-Com Couples (2018)

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Soundtracks

Honey
Written by Tash Neal & Chris St. Hilaire
Performed by The London Souls

User Reviews

Honest, hilarious and heartbreaking

This movie was incredible. Jenny Slate is wonderfully relatable and real, and the film somehow managed to dodge every romcom trope I had expected of it. The premise didn't really grab me, a young female comedian finds herself pregnant after a one night stand. Meh, I assumed it would avoid any real commitment into discussing the reality of abortion, or the terror that can often come with the discovery of having a potential human inside of you.

But man, this was a really honest look at what it would be like to have to make this kind of decision. And somehow, while being frank and beautiful and impeccably acted, it is also hilarious. In a way that some people you know are hilarious, not in a joke-joke-punchline-punchline Seinfeld episode kind of way. The stand-up scenes fit seamlessly instead of feeling forced or tacked on. The relationships feel established and multi-faceted, and there are some real emotional themes without it ever feeling too heavy.

And let's face it, the "Rom-Com Abortion Dramedy" isn't exactly an established genre, it took some guts to make this kind of movie. It's a gem, truly, and in my opinion, a really important film.