She's Having a Baby

The gorgeous Elizabeth McGovern makes up for the sketchiness with rare depth of feeling.

The latest work from director-producer-writer John Hughes is a muddle. Hughes has packed the movie, the story of a young couple's marriage, with amusing sight gags and jokes. What he has failed to offer are palatable characters, original insights or smooth storytelling. Worst of all, he has tacked on a deplorable teary finale. [5 Feb 1988, p.C4]

She`s Having a Baby wants to be everyone`s story, but its hollowness makes it no one`s.

She’s Having a Baby begins with the simplest and most moving of stories and interrupts it with an amazing assortment of gimmicks. It is some kind of tribute to the strength of the story, and the warmth of the performances by Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, that the movie somehow manages almost to work, in spite of the adornments.

This is bitter-sweet compartmentalised, with the saccharine spooned on at the end. Even then it lacks flavour.

In general, if it weren't for the good will we feel toward the actors, the movie would be intolerably feeble. It's nearly intolerable as it is. The only other plus is Stewart Copeland's jaunty, percussive score. It's this sort of thing that's giving maternity a bad name.

Represents a new low for the form. Watching this one, you may be tempted to throw the baby movie out with the bath water.