I tend not to like movies where I know what's going to happen. It usually feels like a chore to get to the inevitable conclusion. I prefer movies that keep me on my toes. That's why I like indie films; their directors don't feel obligated to have the characters live happily ever after; they may not even live at all.
"Friends with Kids" is not a surprising film. The premise: two best friends see marriages breaking down around them once kids enter the equation. They have a kid together so that they can pursue their romantic dreams without parenting getting in the way. Zero points for guessing who these two end up with.
But despite its predictability, writer-director Jennifer Westfeldt makes "Friends with Kids" work thanks to her spot-on observations about marriage: how some relationships can run too hot and cold to be healthy, how even solid marriages hit bumps after childbirth, how the desire for comfort clashes with the wish for something new and exciting. Westfeldt also displays a deft touch in showing how people really interact; a dinner party scene that ends in tears is especially well-orchestrated. She executes poorly in the predictable final scene, but it's still a worthwhile film.
I'm not a big fan of the "journey, not the destination" mindset, but with a film that's smart and poignant, I can see the appeal.
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