Life As We Know It (2/8/2011)

Rated PG-13 for sexual material, language and some drug content.

Starring Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl

Directed by Greg Berlanti (The Broken Hearts Club)

Life as We Know It is a pretty decent date flick.

Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is an up-and-coming caterer and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) is a promising network sports director. After a disastrous first date, the only thing they have in common is their dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter, Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, Holly and Eric are forced to put their differences aside. Juggling career ambitions and competing social calendars, they’ll have to find some common ground while living under one roof.

TODD’S WORD: The story line is relatively new. I know there are plenty of films where two or more people are stuck together, but when the “thing” keeping them together is this cute…it definitely makes it more enjoyable. I also like that they were together more because they were doing the right thing and less because they were “forced” to.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I agree. This storyline has only been done a few times. One of my favorites would be Raising Helen with Kate Hudson. Life as We Know It felt very fresh though, with the added twist of two people who don’t like each other having to work together to raise a child.

TODD’S WORD: As far as the laughs, most of them have been done…everything from poop on the face to the baby spitting up in someone else’s mouth…and of course most of those scenes were in the previews. Again nothing new, but cute. (I’m pretty sure I have never used the word “cute” in a movie review before…and I just used it twice. That’s what “chick flicks” will do to you…can’t wait to see Fast Five.)

JONATHAN’S WORD: I thought it was adorable when you used the word cute twice. Crap! I just said “adorable.” Now I have to go rent The Expendables just to make up for that.

TODD’S WORD: Okay back to the movie, the cast is good. Not only are Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl decent, but the host of TV stars who play their nosey and frisky neighbors do a pretty good job as well. I have no real complaints, but there were no real standout performances either.

Truthfully that’s how I felt about the whole movie – it was good, but not great.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I agree—good, not great—but for different reasons. I just found Eric’s casual philandering ways a little difficult to be comfortable with. I’m not trying to be uptight, but I really don’t like it when films show promiscuous characters not only to be normal and acceptable, but laughable. It’s like Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men. Let’s be realistic. There are natural consequences to this kind of behavior, and we never see them.

Yes, I realize, there are plenty of people like this in the world. This is a reality. It’s just hard for me to check my brain at the door and allow the world’s carefree “anything goes” values to entertain me. So a film that would have been great for me…was only mediocre.

That subplot aside, I really enjoyed the film. Some couples might enjoy renting it on date night.

TODD’S WORD: My wife and I enjoyed it and it was definitely worth the Rental.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There are quite a few inappropriate comments (especially about sex and dating) and a scene where Heigl and Duhamel get high on “special brownies.”

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: In the movie, Holly and Eric are faced with a life changing decision. And while they resist taking on the responsibility of parenting their friends’ child at first, they eventually realize they are needed…and they do the right thing. The step up and take on the responsibility that was entrusted to them.

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: God has entrusted all of us with responsibility. Initially, God gave humans the responsibility of multiplying, subduing the earth, and having dominion over creation (Gen. 1:28). As time went on, He revealed more of himself to mankind, and gave us more and more responsibility.

So let’s look at some of those responsibilities of a Christian.

We are responsible to:

• Live like new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) and to put off the old self and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:17-24).


• Live morally by putting away: lying; prolonged sinful anger; stealing — rather give; corrupt communication; bitterness, wrath, anger, malice — instead be kind, tender hearted, forgiving, and walk in love; fornication, uncleanness, covetousness; filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting — for it is a shame to even speak of those things which are done by them in secret. (Ephesians 4:25–5:7, 12; Galatians 5:19-21; I Corinthians 6:9-11)


• Be involved in a local church (Hebrews 10:22-26)


• Share God’s love and message with others (I Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5)


• Always put God first (Matthew 6:33)

1. How do you feel about knowing you have those responsibilities?


2. What are some ways that you could “step up” and take responsibility like Holly and Eric did?


3. What are some areas where Holly and Eric showed a lack of wisdom? How can you avoid making these mistakes?


4. What is one thing you could do this week to live out any of these principles we just discussed?