Obvious Child, 2014
Written and directed by Gillian Robespierre
Starring Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, Gabe Liedman, David Cross, Richard Kind and Polly Draper
SYNOPSIS:
Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern gets dumped, fired and pregnant just in time for the worst/best St. Valentine’s Day of her life.
Anyone who has seen the superb Parks and Recreation might recognise Jenny Slate as the super irritating sister of John Ralphio – a character that, while funny, is among the most annoying things ever created for television. Her character in Obvious Child couldn’t be more different and Slate gives a star-making performance in this incredibly sweet and loveable “romantic comedy”.
However to call Obvious Child a “romantic comedy” would be a disservice to how cleverly written and well-directed the movie is by first time director Gillian Robespierre. It does act as a beautiful subversion of the genre as it doesn’t bow down to the conventions put forward by its big budget counterparts. By the same token, Obvious Child also doesn’t feel like your typical “indie” comedy that its synopsis portrays. Obvious Child is so much better than all of these conventions.
Jenny Slate plays Donna, a stand-up comedian who gets dumped, discovers the book shop where she works is being shut down and then falls pregnant from a one night stand with a guy named Max – all within the same week. Deciding to get an abortion (on Valentine’s Day of all days), Donna spends the next couple of weeks trying to discover what it is she really wants from life as her relationship with the (almost too) nice Max grows.
Much like last year’s In A World…, Obvious Child shines in its amazing central performance and it’s Slate’s magnetic presence that really makes you warm to her character that could have been dreadful if played by a lesser actress. In reality, a character like Donna would be 100% unlikeable. She’s bratty, lackadaisical and incredibly lazy when it comes to making life choices. But Slate somehow takes this irritation and turns her into a well-rounded and sweet character. She is supported perfectly by a very well-cast crew and they help make Donna all the more charming. Gaby Hoffman in particular is great as her reassuring roommate who helps get her back on her feet with nothing but genuine support.
While Obvious Child tells its story tightly, there is a small section of the movie that just feels a little bit out of place. Perhaps it was just an excuse to get David Cross into the movie, but his appearance where he tries to seduce Donna is not only pitched wrong, it really serves little purpose. The comedy of the scene doesn’t work, the tone is off compared to the rest of the picture and Donna’s character motivations aren’t fully explored. Had Cross been in the movie more, the scene might have played better. It’s not a deal-breaker in terms of the film’s enjoyment, but it is a deterrent away from a more interesting story.
It’s easy to fall in love with Obvious Child and everyone involved, as Jenny Slate is simply wonderful and Gillian Robespierre’s writing and direction is superb. It’s a really heart-warming movie with genuine humour and likeable characters which will play to the “indie” crowd while not falling into the traps of the genre tropes. Simply put, Obvious Child is a joy to watch.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Luke Owen is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.
Originally published April 26, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
