By Kim Bennett
The Seattle Medium
Obvious Child is a romantic comedy that skillfully takes on the touchy subjects of unplanned pregnancy and abortion. The film effortlessly achieves a striking balance of lightness and humor while treating a heavy topic with the appropriate gravity.
Crass and courageous main character, Donna Stern, played by “SNL” alum Jenny Slate, is a late twenty-something bookseller by day and stand-up comedian by night. In the first five minutes of the movie she is dumped by her boyfriend in the public bathroom of a Brooklyn comedy club. Then within what seems just a few days, she is let go from her job and impregnated after a comical one-night stand with Max, played by Jack Lacy from The Office.
With love and support coming from unexpected places, Donna faces a major life decision. Obvious Child effectively presents the realities around a woman’s choice to have an abortion while removing the shame associated with it, providing a look at things from an independent woman’s perspective. Through the film, the viewer gets to follow Donna through a rocky journey and celebrate being authentic with oneself and the ones you love.
Obvious Child is a story about the power of choice and truths of being a young woman trying to find her way in life. It’s also a sweet love story where Donna learns that it’s ok to be herself, in all her flatulent glory, with the man she is sleeping with. Jenny Slate is a riot and fully embodies the quirky, quick-witted and endearing character of Donna Stern that you can’t help but root for.
It goes by quickly at 83 minutes, but it’s laugh-out-loud funny and sweet at the same time. It’s even serious and silly, which is a hard balance to strike, but Obvious Child does it so well.
Obvious Child will show at the following times and locations during the Seattle International Film Festival:
Tues., May 20, 7:00 PM, Egyptian Theatre
Weds., May 21, 4:30 PM, SIFF Cinema Uptown
For more information on the film visit: http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/obvious-child
