There’s nothing like getting an abortion on Valentine’s Day. Or finding out that you’re unemployed. Or becoming pregnant from a one night stand. It officially sucks to be Donna Stern.
Donna (Jenny Slate) has worked in an independent bookstore for over five years, but she’s anything but nerdy. She wears lots of cardigans, but she’s hardly meek. She’s just an average 28-year-old Jewish comedian living paycheque to paycheque in Brooklyn. She would rather drink with friends than worry about her future—in a totally non-alcoholic way.
Nothing prompts Donna to drink more than the news that her smelly (her mom’s word, not mine) boyfriend has been cheating with her best friend. When Donna takes a break from ranting to her GBF to get another round, she meets Max (Jake Lacy), a clean-cut guy from Vermont. Before you know it, Donna’s at his apartment dancing to Paul Simon’s Obvious Child song.
Three weeks later, she realizes she’s pregnant while shopping with her roommate Nellie (Gaby Hoffman). Donna wastes no time and takes a test at the bookstore to confirm. Her voice over monologue while impatiently waiting for the iPhone timer to beep is priceless.
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on with stand-up comics who perform at seedy bars, then look no further. Obvious Child shares more personal information about Donna than you’d ever think to ask about. What follows is an unbelievably realistic portrayal of Donna’s inner turmoil, as she bravely tells Max, her divorced parents and an unsuspecting audience.
Obvious Child is a clever film with a feminist perspective that expertly finds the delicate balance between comedy, drama and romance. Somewhere in between the fart jokes lies a topical pro-choice script that deserves your attention.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2GN3wdfqbA’]