MOVIE REVIEW - Friends With kids

Out there in limited release is the new, modern comedy Friends With Kids the brainchild of the wonderful Jennifer Westfeldt. She write this, produced and starred in this really off beat, quirky movie.

FWK is the story of Julie (Westfeldt) and Jason (Adam Scott). They live in the same apartment building in Manhattan and have been great friends since college, but never dated. Now 18 years later all of their friends have gotten married, and have kids. Jason and Julie are still out there bumming around together, dating whoever comes along, and not really growing up. They come up with this bold idea that they should have a baby together with the only tie being their love for their child. They would share the duties 50/50, and also be free to see whomever they want in their separate lives. So they do it and have a beautiful baby boy, Joe.

Sound silly? Kind of. But in today's world there are far more silly real stories out there. Our world in constantly changing, and so is our familial structure. This story, although embellished some from Hollywood, is original and has a story to tell. Can Jason and Julie make this work in the face of all odds against it? Or will they find love with each other in the aftermath of having baby Joe? That's FWK.

This movie is actually two movies in one. The first hour is a thoroughly modern comedy, complete with direct, and blunt dialogue. It is graphic at times, and mimics its generation well. It deals with highly adult content, and handles it well at times, and is a bit over the top at others. There are some really funny scenes here and a few great out loud laughs. Some coming from an uncomfortable place, and that's OK.

The second half is another movie altogether. It grows a rather large heart, and takes a very different turn in the story. It brings you back to the real world, and chooses to deal head on with the obvious ramifications of making such a decision out of haste. It does have some laughs left in it, and some direct moments too. Some coming from an uncomfortable place yet again. And that's well done.

Jennifer Westfeldt is flat out wonderful, alluring, strangely awkward and attractive in this role and titanically likable. She is the unsure of herself Julie, who talks a bigger game than she really has. Westfeldt is seemingly born to play this role and maybe she was since she wrote it. I would love to see more of her. Scott is the reluctant to grow up Jason, who has a sense of real that makes you root for him. And a supporting cast that is stellar, that includes Maya Rudolph, Kristin Wiig, Ed Burns, and Megan Fox. Surprisingly, Fox is very good in her small but important role.

Friends With Kids. It won't be everyone's cup of tea. At first, you may feel like this is just another semi-raunchy comedy, but it strikes back. In short, Friends With Kids had to choose between being pointless or poignant. It chose the latter.