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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTINGMovie Reviews
Comedy about five couples dealing with the physical, emotional and social challenges presented by pregnancy and parenthood. Cast:Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick, Matthew J. Morrison, Elizabeth Banks, Brooklyn DeckerDirector:Kirk JonesRelease Date:May 18, 2012DVD Release:September 11, 2012From:LionsgateRating:PG-13Length:1 hr. 50 min.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
What to Expect When You're Expecting, Fair Reviews
What to Expect When You're Expecting played to fair reviews. • Mara Reinstein wrote in Us Weekly, "...the high-wattage ensemble does the best it can with the flat, interlocking story lines." • And Alison Willmore wrote for Movieline, "...think one scene in which a woman howls and makes funny faces during labor is funny? How about many of them together?" More Reviews Below...
What to Expect When You're Expecting Positive Reviews (42 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Not quite. This is what moms-to-be can expect if they're healthy, wealthy, heterosexual, have an involved partner, and are Hollywood gorgeous."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 171 words, 05/17/12
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "...a rather predictable and cliched depiction of pregnancy.... A good-looking cast of popular actors can only do so much with material that's superficial and sitcommy."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 712 words, 05/17/12
Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "...the high-wattage ensemble does the best it can with the flat, interlocking story lines.... the men are so one-note, they primarily serve as supportive props."(See all of Mara Reinstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 214 words, 05/17/12
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "As sociology, it's skin-deep, but if you're a parent or preparing to be one, you might see yourself in a few of these folks and have a good time doing so."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 246 words, 05/18/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: WEAK(cg) "...an all-star dud... hustles its five main expectant couples to the starting gate, saddles them with clichés, and whips the fire out of them."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 299 words, 05/18/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The actors are all good company, and I would have enjoyed seeing more of each role, something I suspect they would agree with me about."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 05/18/12
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: POOR(cg) "Once you've seen enough of these kinds of films, you accept the predictability and unrelenting ideological determinism... offers mostly rote sentimentality..."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 612 words, 05/16/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...the overall mood is of warm reassurance, and some of it is even pretty funny.... the sight of a bunch of guys with babies strapped to their chests is always funny."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 778 words, 05/18/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...rather than the engaging enlightenment of the source, the film becomes bloated by confusion.... the ensemble comedy with its many entanglements flounders badly."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 605 words, 05/18/12
Farran Smith Nehme, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "...dully shot and predictably plotted.... isn't as charmless as you might have feared, largely due to a cast working furiously to sell every scene."(See all of Farran Smith Nehme's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 482 words, 05/18/12
Roger Moore, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "It's choppy and episodic, and funny -- especially when Rock, a veteran dad in real life -- is holding court. But the overarching message is both moving and amusing."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 495 words, 05/18/12
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Do you see yourself on screen? Is your particular situation addressed? Does the movie 'get it right'? It does, thanks mainly to its large and likable cast."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 324 words, 05/18/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The actors are all good company, and I would have enjoyed seeing more of each role, something I suspect they would agree with me about."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 05/18/12
Eric Hynes, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "...insists that pleasure ends when parenting begins, yet also that the parenting life is the only one worth living. God forbid there could be something in between."(See all of Eric Hynes's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 697 words, 05/16/12
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "None of these couples are sure about what to expect, allowing the script by Shauna Cross and Heather Hatch to deliver a few surprises along with the laughter and tears."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 471 words, 05/18/12
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...would rather resort to immature humour for kicks. Many of these gags are so forcibly contrived, the movie seems to be going through labour to deliver them."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 05/17/12
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Any movie with Chris Rock in it is automatically a better movie, especially when he ad-libs his own dialogue, as he appears to be doing here."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 337 words, 05/18/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: WEAK(cg) "It's a mishmash of mediocrity. The performances are somewhat better than the material, especially those of Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick and Jennifer Lopez."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 562 words, 05/18/12
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the writing is sharp and the performances bright, and if you've been through the forced gestational march known as pregnancy, there are knowing laughs to be had."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 724 words, 05/18/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: MODERATE(cg) "...a fairly standard, overstuffed rom-com with a bunch of disparate couples going through their own versions of the nine-month miracle."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 500 words, 05/18/12
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "...a hit-and-miss effort... Elizabeth Banks, who is very funny, keeps the movie grounded in the grinding physical details."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 505 words, 05/18/12
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: MODERATE(cg) "...a handful of rom-com ideas that couldn't sustain a movie on their own, so director Kirk Jones shuffles them, prolonging their easy resolutions."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 561 words, 05/17/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: WEAK(cg) "Pure pablum.... for the most part this is cheap pandering to prospective parents. Real parents will recognize it as strained peaches."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 287 words, 05/18/12
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: MODERATE(cg) "The cast is game, but the film plays out more like a long sitcom than a feature film... On the bright side, it gets to show cute babies at the end."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 483 words, 05/18/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (10 Reviews)
Eric Hynes, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "...insists that pleasure ends when parenting begins, yet also that the parenting life is the only one worth living. God forbid there could be something in between."(See all of Eric Hynes's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 697 words, 05/16/12
Sean O'Connell, Cinema Blend: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...if fate conspires, you could be a parent. If you happen to be one, Krik Jones has made a halfway decent comedy for you. Get a sitter for your kids and enjoy."(See all of Sean O'Connell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 658 words, 05/17/12
Jake Mulligan, Boston Phoenix: MODERATE(cg) "...most of the time, the sentimental rom-com antics and underdeveloped archetypes feel as fake as the big bellies the ladies are showing off."(See all of Jake Mulligan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 147 words, 05/17/12
Scott Tobias, AV Club: MODERATE(cg) "...every time the film touches on some simple, relatable truth about the trials of bringing a child into the world, there are five or six outrageous comic setpieces that diminish it."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 05/17/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: POOR(cg) "...could not be more obvious about what to expect at every minute of its plot... broad idiocy... By the time these guys are ramming each other in golf carts, well..."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 777 words, 05/18/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: POOR(cg) "It's the inevitability and uniformity of the film's attitude -- as well as the desperately strained and unfunny way in which it puts it across -- that's bothersome."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 762 words, 05/15/12
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...would rather resort to immature humour for kicks. Many of these gags are so forcibly contrived, the movie seems to be going through labour to deliver them."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 05/17/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: POOR(cg) "Holy baby with the bathwater, 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' sets a new low bar of awfulness, self-centeredness, and unreality."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 660 words, 05/29/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...the overall mood is of warm reassurance, and some of it is even pretty funny.... the sight of a bunch of guys with babies strapped to their chests is always funny."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 778 words, 05/18/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...rather than the engaging enlightenment of the source, the film becomes bloated by confusion.... the ensemble comedy with its many entanglements flounders badly."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 605 words, 05/18/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Lael Loewenstein, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Helmer Kirk Jones ('Nanny McPhee') does a solid job negotiating the material and managing the few tonal shifts when an occasional dark moment emerges..."(See all of Lael Loewenstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 559 words, 05/10/12
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter: MODERATE "Amid the would-be and actual laughs, the screenplay tries to drum up drama, but every disagreement and tension is treated superficially and summarily resolved."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 831 words, 05/10/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...rather than the engaging enlightenment of the source, the film becomes bloated by confusion.... the ensemble comedy with its many entanglements flounders badly."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 605 words, 05/18/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: MODERATE(cg) "A whole ensemble of talented and handsome actors is underused, if not wasted, in the disappointingly shallow and rambling comedy..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 430 words, 05/17/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...the overall mood is of warm reassurance, and some of it is even pretty funny.... the sight of a bunch of guys with babies strapped to their chests is always funny."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 778 words, 05/18/12
19.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
What to Expect When You're Expecting's reviews are separated by an average 19.0 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
What to Expect When You're Expecting (42 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:What to Expect When You're Expecting's reviews cover 85.4% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 22,024 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 524 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
What to Expect When You're Expecting Coverage, Volume & Length (42 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 12.8 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
What to Expect When You're Expecting's reviews on average broke 12.8 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is What to Expect When You're Expecting's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
What to Expect When You're Expecting (42 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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