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"THEN SHE FOUND ME"
(2008) (Helen Hunt, Colin Firth) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Moderate Minor Moderate None None
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Minor None None None Heavy
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Heavy None Heavy Heavy None


QUICK TAKE:
Dramedy: A teacher must not only contend with her husband suddenly dumping her, but also the biological mother she never knew suddenly reentering her life.
PLOT:
April Epner (HELEN HUNT) is a married, 39-year-old teacher in New York whose biological clock is ticking. So far unable to get pregnant by her fellow schoolteacher husband Ben (MATTHEW BRODERICK), April refuses her mother's call to adopt a child, mainly because she was adopted and would prefer to have the direct bonding that her doctor brother, Freddy (BEN SHENKMAN), had with their mom.

April's natural pregnancy quest is thrown for a loop, however, when Ben unexpectedly announces that married life isn't for him and thus moves out to go home and live with his mother. Things become even more complicated when April's biological mother, daytime TV talk show host Bernice Graves (BETTE MIDLER), suddenly wants to be back in her life, a development that doesn't sit well with April, particularly following the recent death of her adoptive mom.

Things begin to look up a bit when April starts dating Frank (COLIN FIRTH), the divorced father of some students at her school, although both jilted adults are a bit hazy about how to proceed. That's then thrown for a loop when April discovers she's pregnant from a one-time fling of previous break-up sex with Ben. From that point on, she must balance that, the men in her life, and her newly reestablished but rocky relationship with Bernice.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Unless they're fans of someone in the cast, it doesn't seem too likely many will.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For language and some sexual content.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • HELEN HUNT plays a 39-year-old schoolteacher who desperately wants to have a biological baby, but initially can't conceive with her husband who then unexpectedly dumps her. She must not only contend with that, but also the death of her adoptive mother, the reappearance of the biological mother she doesn't remember, and discovering that she's pregnant by Ben just as she's started dating (and sleeping with) Frank. She drinks some and uses some profanity.
  • COLIN FIRTH plays the divorced father of two students at April's school who starts dating and eventually beds her. He's conflicted about his feelings toward her as well as her relationship with Ben. He uses strong profanity, drinks some, and is prone to emotional outbursts.
  • BETTE MIDLER plays April's biological mom and daytime TV talk show host who had her at the age of 15, put her up for adoption, and now suddenly wants back in her life after a long absence. She uses strong profanity, drinks some, appears to be sexually liberated, and tells various lies to April.
  • MATTHEW BRODERICK plays April's nebbish husband and fellow schoolteacher who suddenly decides he doesn't want to be married to her anymore, but still occasionally wants to have sex (with one such encounter leaving her pregnant).
  • BEN SHENKMAN plays April's brother, a doctor who tries to be supportive of her.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated dramedy. Profanity consists of at least 8 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as is some clothed fooling around, with off-screen sex heavily suggested. There's also material regarding a past teen pregnancy, while a woman is seen holding her bare breasts (non-sexually).

    Various bad attitudes are present, as is tense family material in various forms (marital separation/divorce, death of a parent, death of an unborn child, etc.), while characters drink in various scenes. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

    For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of handheld camerawork in the film.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • We see bottles of wine before April and Ben's wedding, and then people having wine at the reception.
  • A maitre d' offers April a glass of champagne while she waits for Bernice, but April declines the offer. Others there have wine, while bottles of wine are also seen.
  • People have drinks at a reception where Bernice asks April if she wants a drink and April says she does.
  • Bernice, her date, Frank and April have shots of sake dropped into their beer. April comments that she normally doesn't drink this much, while Frank states he has to say something before he gets drunk.
  • Bernice accepts an offer of champagne.
  • We see miscellaneous wine drinking.
  • Bernice gives April some wine, saying a little is okay with being pregnant, but when April then drinks more, Bernice stops her, asking, "What, are you nuts?"
  • April and her brother have wine.
  • We see wine in front of Bernice.
  • We see some partially filled wine glasses on a table after dinner.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • April says that her wanting a baby is like being hungry or having to pee.
  • Frank says his young son ended up peeing in the fridge while sleep-walking.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • Bernice tells various white lies to April about her and their past.
  • Bernice gives April some wine, saying a little is okay with being pregnant, but when April then drinks more, Bernice stops her, asking, "What, are you nuts?"
  • Frank develops a bad attitude toward April, including telling her "F*ck them and f*ck you." He later changes his tune.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • None.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • None.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Because I'm a f*cking idiot," "I f*cked him at a drive-in," "F*ck them and f*ck you," "Jesus f*cking Christ," "Scared the sh*t out of me," "I don't give a sh*t," "Nut" (crazy person), "Freak," "You idiot," "What, are you nuts?" "Jeez" and "Go to hell."
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • None.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 8 "f" words (1 used sexually), 2 "s" words, 2 hells, 1 ass, 8 uses of "Oh my God," 7 of "Oh God," 3 each of "Jesus" and "My God," 2 each of "God knows" and "Oh for God's sakes" and 1 use each of "G-damn," "For God's sakes," "God," "Godforsaken," "Jesus Christ," "Oh Jesus," "Oh Jesus Christ" and "Swear to God."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • April tells Ben she can't make love if they don't talk. After telling April he doesn't want this life (married to her), Ben asks why she won't remove her coat. She then shows that she's wearing just lingerie beneath that (nothing terribly revealing), and despite the news he's just given her, they passionately kiss while standing. We next see them doing the same with him on top of her, with heavy breathing and some roaming hands. Both are clothed up top and sex is heavily suggested but not seen. Once done, he gets up and adjusts his pants before leaving.
  • April goes over to her brother's and sees (from the front door) a woman in his bed with a sheet up over her chest.
  • Bernice shows a little cleavage.
  • We hear that Bernice was pregnant with April at the age of 15.
  • Talking about her biological father, April asks Bernice if it was a one-night stand. Bernice says no, but adds that the memory of it has nearly lasted a lifetime. April then asks when she was conceived, with Bernice saying it was on the 4th of July. April asks if her father was circumcised, with Bernice replying he was Catholic.
  • We hear that Frank is divorced, and April asks if his wife was seeing someone else. He replies she was seeing everyone else.
  • We see the shape of April's nipples under her top, and later see that again.
  • About his ex-wife, Frank says their sex life was controlled by her artwork, and that it depicted auto-eroticism.
  • While making small talk about themselves, Bernice says that she's very verbal during sex. April says that she's afraid of drowning, prompting Bernice to reply, "During sex?"
  • About April's biological father, Bernice says they had sex three times, and once made love in a sleeping bag. April then wonders if that's where she was conceived, Bernice says no, but then adds that a week later "I f*cked him at a drive-in."
  • We see miscellaneous cleavage.
  • About a man she knows, Bernice says he has the best "ass" on a 50-year-old man. Moments later, Frank and April stare at that man's clothed butt and smile (with the camera focusing on his butt).
  • April shows some cleavage.
  • Ben tells April he needs to see her, but she replies no, stating that they'll end up in bed (like before).
  • Frank and April passionately kiss, and then do more of that on a sofa, with him on top of her and between her legs, but both are clothed at this moment and no actual sex is seen. It's heavily suggested, however, when she later wakes up in bed, and we see her bare back. She then receives a phone call from Bernice wondering if she (Bernice) should sleep with the 50-year-old man mentioned above. When Bernice realizes April slept with Frank, Bernice states that she's all for rebound affairs. When that call is done, we see April with a sheet over her chest, and then she and Frank "spoon" on the floor. He then starts to ask, "I don't suppose we can..." and then says, "Just kidding."
  • We see April's bare back and a brief/partial glimpse of part of the side of her bare breast as she tries to put her bra on (looking in a mirror), but can't get it to fit (due to unexpectedly being pregnant). We then see her with her hands holding her bare breasts (no nipple view, but other skin is seen).
  • We see April in a bathtub, and when she shifts her position, we see the tops of her breasts, but no nipple view.
  • When Frank learns that April is pregnant by Ben, he's shocked and asks, "You made love (to Ben) on the day we met?" April then half-angrily replies that Frank obviously slept with his wife, at least twice (due to have that many kids), and that's not exactly an appetizing thought to her.
  • Ben suddenly and passionately kisses April and then continues that into her car. The front seat isn't comfortable, so they move to the back with him between her legs (both still clothed) when he prematurely ejaculates (not seen, but we hear his restrained orgasmic sound and she asks, "Really?"). Later learning of that, Bernice comments on break-up sex.
  • We see April in her bra as she changes out of wet clothes.
  • We twice see April's bare belly (in separate scenes) while an ultrasound is performed on her.
  • We see Bernice in just a shirt (with brief views of her panties) when April confronts her while Bernice is getting dressed in her dressing room.
  • Bernice shows a little cleavage.
  • April tries in vitro fertilization to get pregnant, and related to that we see the side of her bare hip/butt when Bernice gives her a shot.
  • SMOKING
  • None.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • April and her mom have a strained relationship, particularly about April wanting to have a child of her own, while her mom tells her to adopt. That discussion occurs while the mother is in the hospital.
  • Ben wants April to sit down for his bad news, stating that he made a mistake and then that he doesn't want this life (married to her). They then have impulsive sex, but when they're done, he leaves and tells her he'll see her in school. When she goes there later, however, she learns that he's resigned.
  • After April says it can't get any worse than this (Ben leaving her), we next see a funeral scene for her recently dead mother (the scene transition plays as funny).
  • We hear that April's dad died 3 years ago.
  • April is not happy to meet Bernice, her biological mother.
  • Bernice tells April her father is a famous, but dead celebrity, but we later learn that's not true.
  • Bernice states that her father took the infant April away from her after just a few days, but we later learn that's not true (that she had her for a year).
  • We hear that Frank is divorced, and April asks if his wife was seeing someone else. He replies she was seeing everyone else.
  • Frank's daughter, Ruby, has a bad earache, thus necessitating a trip to the emergency room (she turns out to be okay).
  • April informs Ben that she's pregnant by him, and isn't pleased with his shocked but otherwise blank reaction and response.
  • We see footage from Bernice's TV talk show where she interviews other mothers who gave up their kids for adoption, with Bernice then admitting that she did the same in her past. April then learns from that past admission that Bernice had her for a year before putting her up for adoption (rather than the few days Bernice had earlier indicated).
  • Bernice states that her dad kicked her out of the house when she was 15 and with a child.
  • Spoiler Alert: During an ultrasound, April learns that her unborn child is dead.
  • April continues to have a strained relationship with Bernice, her biological mother, although this varies depending on the scene.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Adoption and the fact that April, who was adopted, doesn't want to adopt and instead wants a biological child.
  • April says that her wanting a baby is like being hungry or having to pee.
  • There are various gay-related moments in the film, including: Upon first meeting April and not knowing her sexual orientation, Bernice asks her if she has someone who will hold her in his or her arms. We later see footage of Janeane Garafalo on Bernice's talk show, talking about her favorite gay person. Later, there's talk of gay marriage on Bernice's show, featuring interviews with both gay and lesbian couples.
  • Teen sex and the risk of pregnancy (and disease, etc.).
  • The comment that every ending is a beginning.
  • Rebound relationships.
  • We see footage from Bernice's TV talk show where she interviews other mothers who gave up their kids for adoption, with Bernice then admitting that she did the same in her past.
  • Bernice states that her dad kicked her out of the house when she was 15 and with a child.
  • April losing her faith in God due to what's transpired.
  • VIOLENCE
  • None.



  • Reviewed May 2, 2008 / Posted May 16, 2008

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