‘WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING’ ½
Jules ............. Cameron Diaz Holly ........... Jennifer Lopez Wendy....... Elizabeth Banks Marco ........ Chace Crawford Skyler....... Brooklyn Decker Rosie ........... Anna Kendrick Evan ...... Matthew Morrison Gary ................Ben Falcone Ramsey .........Dennis Quaid Vic..................... Chris Rock Alex.......... Rodrigo Santoro Lionsgate presents a film directed by Kirk Jones. Written by Shauna Cross and Heather Hatch, inspired by the book by Heidi Murkoff. Running time: 109 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for crude and sexual content, thematic elements and language). Opening Friday at local theaters.
Counterpoint for these stories, as if one was needed, is a quartet of new dads who meet weekly to wheel baby carriages through the park. They’re led by Vic (Chris Rock), who is rich in oneliners. On every stroll, they meet their mutual friend Davis (Joe Mangianello), a narcissistic fitness buff who would rather work out than impregnate anyone.
Three of the stories synch in delivery rooms of the same hospital. The other two have happy endings. What the five couples have in common is that they’re all in the same movie. The only interlocking stories are the NASCAR hero and his son. No, wait — the son is connected to Diaz because he was on her weight-loss show.
The movie is essentially a clothesline on which to display trigger-pushing moments. I grew weary of circling endlessly among the various stories. 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. The movie is inspired by the best-seller by Heidi Murkoff. It is nonfiction, which is just as well; there’s no room here for anything more.