Life Happens
LIFE HAPPENS (2012)
Starring Krysten Ritter, Kate Bosworth, Rachel Bilson, Geoff Stults, Justin Kirk, Kristen Johnson, Fallon Goodson, Andrea Savage, Connor Ross, Zachary Ross, Rhys Coiro, Jason Biggs, Seymour Cassel and Lauren Conrad.
Screenplay by Krysten Ritter and Kat Coiro.
Directed by Kat Coiro.
Distributed by PMK*BNC Films. 100 minutes. Rated R.
Life Happens would never have happened if not for Bridesmaids.
A girlie buddy film, like a Y-chromosome Judd Apatow offshoot, Life Happens does share its predecessor’s savvy mix of girls-gone-wild raunchiness and traditional chick-flick growing. (In fact, the movie goes a tiny bit heavy on the baby love to expect a big crossover guy audience – but then again, the same could have been said about Bridesmaids’ wedding fever.)
And while this movie is not nearly as good as Bridesmaids, this charming starring debut by actress/co-writer Krysten Ritter does have some very good moments mixed in.
Showing off some of the comic attitude that is turning Ritter into a star with her new buzz sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23, her movie is not as well-written as that show, but still has some terrific moments.
The film starts off in a prologue that kind of gives you an idea what you are in for. Kim (Ritter) and her gorgeous and hip writer bestie Deana (Kate Bosworth) are in the middle of a night of meaningless pickups when it turns out there is only one condom left in the household stash. Deana grabs the rubber and nine months later, Kim pays the price of poor contraceptive inventory.
Which puts her in a bit of a quandary, can she find career satisfaction, true love and the coolest LA parties as a single mom?
It is a bit of a sitcomish situation – in fact it’s a bit of a sitcomish script – but it has enough funny moments to make things enjoyable. And Ritter’s star quality shines through, even when the material isn’t as good as she deserves.
Needless to say, a little baby around a female party house (a third roomie, played by former Dawson’s Creek hottie Rachel Bilson, is under-sketched and under-utilized) leads to loads of complications. The ladies deal with crazy bosses and oddball (but oh-so-cute) men who eventually appreciate the girls for their quirks, not despite them.
Life Happens will not become the cultural touchstone that Bridesmaids did, but as a harmless female-centric trifle, with the added bonus of seeing a star on the rise who appears like she may go supernova in her follow-up role as a certain B—-.
Jay S. Jacobs
Copyright ©2012 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: April 10, 2012.
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