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"LIFE AS WE KNOW IT" (2010) (Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Moderate Heavy Minor Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None None Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy None Heavy Heavy Mild QUICK TAKE: Romantic Dramedy: The lives of two single people, who don't get along, are changed when they suddenly become guardians of their deceased friends' young daughter. PLOT: Holly Berenson (KATHERINE HEIGL) and Eric Messer (JOSH DUHAMEL) couldn't be more different. She's responsible and runs her own bakery, while Messer (he goes by his last name) is a technical director for sports broadcasts when he's not bedding any number of attractive women. Accordingly, their blind date -- set up by their mutual friends Peter (HAYES MacARTHUR) and Alison (CHRISTINA HENDRICKS) -- goes horribly. Even so, they still see each other due to their friends, especially when the married couple has a daughter, Sophie. Things become more complicated when Peter and Alison are killed in a car accident and Holly and Eric learn that their friends secretly named them as guardians of Sophie should anything happen to them. With no suitable relatives to take care of the child, Holly and Messer decide to put their differences behind them in order to do what's best for Sophie. That includes moving into their late friends' home, although they sleep in separate rooms and try to go on, when given the chance, with their own private lives. That includes him going through his usual array of women, while she finds Sophie's pediatrician, Sam (JOSH LUCAS), alluring. But most of their time is spent trying to figure out how to raise a young child, especially with social worker Janine (SARAH BURNS) making unexpected visits to check up on them. As time passes, their animosity slowly turns into romance, a development that ends up complicating their lives to an even greater extent. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast, romantic comedies, or films featuring babies and/or the raising of them, they might be interested. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual material, language and some drug content. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: KATHERINE HEIGL plays a highly organized woman who's forsaken her romantic life in favor of running and trying to expand her bakery business. She hasn't liked Messer since their one and only failed blind date, but must put up with him and his antics due to their mutual friends. But her life changes when the two of them end up as surprise dual guardians of their friends' young child when they perish in a car accident. As she tries to figure out how to raise a child, she drinks (including to point of intoxication), uses some profanity, eats pot brownies, and sleeps with Messer while also becoming romantically involved with Sam. JOSH DUHAMEL plays a technical director for live TV sports broadcasts whose womanizing ways (he sleeps with various women via one-night stands) don't sit well with Holly. He's a constant pain in her side as they're around each other due to their mutual friends, and he's just as shocked as her to learn of his new legal guardian status. He eventually ends up bedding and falling for Holly, but is conflicted when raising Sophie with her potentially stymies his budding career. He uses some profanity, drinks, and eats pot brownies with her. JOSH LUCAS plays the young girl's pediatrician who takes a liking to Holly. HAYES MacARTHUR plays Messer and Eric's friend and parent who confiscates pot from some teens and plans on using it later, but doesn't get the chance when he dies, along with his wife, in a car accident. Like her, he didn't let his friends know of their plans for the two in regards to their daughter. CHRISTINA HENDRICKS plays his wife who similarly didn't inform Holly of those plans. SARAH BURNS plays the social case worker who occasionally checks up on Holly and Messer and their raising of Sophie. She's somewhat focused on whether they've had sex, and uses some profanity. 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 romantic dramedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 3 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is also present, while off-screen sex is implied (women are seen in bed and presumably are nude under the covers), there's some kissing, and varying amounts of cleavage are present. A husband and wife are killed in an unseen car accident, while there's some accidental property damage, and a few bits involved accidentally dropping and lightly shoving a child. Thematic elements are present along with tense family material (regarding parents being killed in that unseen accident, resulting in their friends having to raise their young child). Drinking occurs in various scenes (including to the point of intoxication), and two people make and then eat pot brownies. Various scenes feature crude humor, while bad attitudes are also present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some of that from flashing police lights. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, we see some bouncy, handheld camera footage in a home movie. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE About their failing first date, Messer says that worst case, they get drunk and "hook up." People have champagne at a wedding. People have wine and beer at a party. About some teens who've put up an inflatable castle in his yard, Peter asks them if they've been smoking marijuana. They pretend to be innocent, saying that's illegal, but he says they're stoned and then confiscates the pot (that's in a baggie). After the boys leave, Peter jokes to Messer that once a year he (Peter) and Alison relive their misspent youth, with Messer doubting it's only that one time. Messer and Holly have mimosas with Peter and Alison. People have wine and beer at a party. We see wine bottles in Peter and Alison's kitchen. Messer has a beer. People have beer and wine at a wake (Messer has a beer). Messer has a beer in another scene. About a judge granting Holly and Messer custody of Sophie, Messer is surprised the judge didn't ask them anything, and thus incredulously asks her how she knows they're not drug dealers or pimps. The judge then asks if they are and they say no. Messer, Holly and their friends have wine. Sam writes a prescription for Holly and states it's for wine. Later, we see her with wine and she's intoxicated from that, including when Janine comes by for a surprise visit. Later, Holly asks how she can be hung-over without having gone to sleep. A cab driver, Walter, asks Messer "Are you on crack?" when Messer wants Walter to babysit Sophie for several hours. Later, and about beverages in the fridge in the TV production control room, Messer tells Walter no beer until after the game. Messer talks about his past when girls would buy him drinks and throw themselves (sexually) at him. We see Messer walk by the camera shot in just his underwear and drinking a beer. Holly says she'll make Messer dinner with wine and the two then have some. Messer shows Holly the bag of pot from above and jokingly tells her it will help stave off glaucoma, but she says they can't smoke that. We then see that they've made pot brownies, eaten some, and are then watching children's shows and cartoons while high. The next morning, Janine unexpectedly shows up, and as Holly and Messer rush about to clean up the place, one yells for the other to get the illicit drugs. He does and dumps them down the kitchen sink. Later, as Janine gets up to leave, she grabs a brownie, but Holly slaps it from her hand, saying it was a bad batch. Some friends/neighbors have drinks at a neighborhood picnic/block party. Messer has a beer. Messer brings a bottle of wine over for Thanksgiving with Holly, Sam and others (who have wine and beer). People have wine and beer at a party. BLOOD/GORE Seeing Messer holding up Sophie above his own head, Peter tells him to be careful as she has her "puking" face on. Young Sophie projectile vomits onto Messer, and we then see him washing out his mouth along with his face. Later, Holly says he smells of "baby puke." Among the few things that Messer says babies do, one is pee on things. There's talk of Sophie's dirty diaper, and we see Holly and Messer try to change her and adversely react to both the sight (we don't see anything) and smell. He nearly retches and says it looks like "Slumdog Millionaire" in there (meaning the child is covered in excrement), while she mentions it being between the infant's toes and that the smell is burning her eyes. Holly finally succeeds, but doesn't realize she has excrement on her face. He tries to tell her, but she brushes him off and goes downstairs where their guests stare in awkwardness, with one finally telling her, "Sweetie, you have sh*t on your face." There's another dirty diaper scene, but no view of excrement. Messer and Holly hurriedly try to rush Sophie (who they state has a poop face) to a toilet from the bathtub, but Holly can't get the safety latch off. Instead, she grabs Messer's baseball cap and holds it at Sophie's bottom. We don't see anything, but do note the apparently full hat that Holly says they need to throw away. Sam asks if Sophie has regular bowel movements, and Holly says not at first, but now yes. Over the phone, Messer tells a cab driver he's hired to babysit Sophie to sniff her butt (to see if she needs a diaper change), but the man says he's not smelling any baby booty. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Messer's cellphone ring tone is a clip from a song that keeps repeating "Pull over, that ass too fat." About their failing first date, Messer says that worst case, they get drunk and "hook up," but Holly is disgusted by that thought. She then gives him advice about not making a "booty call" in front of her (after he sets up another date later in the night while on a date with Holly). He then lies, saying that the caller was a sick friend, with her saying yeah right, "Are you gonna heal her with your magic penis?" After that, Holly and Messer are antagonistic toward each other for much of the film, although that's tempered at times due to their new obligation of being Sophie's guardians. Messer jokingly pretends that he's about to drop Sophie while holding the infant. Messer's boss tells another worker, "You're too ugly not to be smarter," prompting that guy to state (under his breath), "I hate him so much." Messer and Holly are shocked to learn their friends named them as guardians of their daughter, but never informed them of that. A father tells others that if he knew where the Wiggles (the children's TV show characters) lived, he'd murder them with an AK-47 (meaning he's seen them too many times). Messer opens jars of baby food in the store to see which ones Sophie likes by having her smell them (he puts the turned-down ones back on the shelf). Holly then tells Messer that all he cares about is "getting laid." He then sarcastically replies, "You should probably get laid yourself," but then adds for her to have sex, she'd have to find somebody who can stand her. Holly accuses Messer, "You use Sophie to get laid" (meaning to pick up women who are attracted to him being with a baby). Friends and neighbors gossip about Messer and Holly, saying they're like cats in heat, that they "totally did it," and then something about a bet about how many months it would be before Holly slept with him. Messer doesn't inform Holly about a job offer he got that would relocate him to Phoenix. Holly doesn't tell Messer that she's selling their friends' house, leading (along with him not telling her about his job offer out of town) to an argument between them. FRIGHTENING SCENES Holly gets a call that her friends have been killed in a car accident, and she learns that their child is in child protective services for the night. Messer then meets her at the police station and is equally distraught. GUNS/WEAPONS A father tells others that if he knew where the Wiggles (the children's TV show characters) lived, he'd murder them with an AK-47 (meaning he's seen them too many times). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Sweetie, you have sh*t on your face," "Work your sh*t out," "Booty call," "Are you gonna heal her with your magic penis?" "You keep your watch on during sex, don't you?" "If she was old enough to have sex with Peter, I'd be obsolete," "I don't touch meat...I mean with my lips," "He was such a d*ck," "Rack" (breasts), "Pinched with a tranny hooker," "All you care about is getting laid," "You should probably get laid yourself," "Two cats in heat," "They totally did it," "Oh my God, are you serious?" "What kind of asshole are you?" "Oh my bad," "You smell of baby puke," "Shut up," "Don't be a smart ass," "You're too ugly not to be smarter," "I'm/we're screwed," "It's messed up," "Suck/Sucks/Sucked," "Chick," "It's like 'Slumdog Millionaire' in there," "What the hell /were you thinking?" "Pain in the ass," "Oh God no," "Are you on crack?" "You're such a kill-joy," "Dr. Love," "A bit of a control freak," "Kick my cat ass" and "Friggin.'" Messer jokingly pretends that he's about to drop Sophie while holding the infant. A basketball player has tattoos. Young Sophie spits food onto Holly. A kid slides down an interior staircase handrail. Messer opens jars of baby food in the store to see which ones Sophie likes by having her smell them (he puts the turned-down ones back on the shelf). With Sophie standing for the first time, Messer yells for Holly to come see her take her first step, but when she yells for him to stall Sophie, the first thing he can think to do is shove her (lightly) to the floor. We see Messer walk by the camera shot in just his underwear and drinking a beer. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 3 "s" words, 6 slang terms for sex ("laid," "did it," "hook up" and "booty call"), 1 slang term using male genitals ("d*ck"), 1 for breasts ("rack"), 18 asses (5 used with "hole," 1 of them written), 5 hells, 1 damn, 25 uses of "Oh my God," 7 of "Oh God," 5 of "God," 2 of "Swear to God" and 1 use of "Jesus." SEX/NUDITY Holly shows cleavage. Messer's cellphone ring tone is a clip from a song that keeps repeating "Pull over, that ass too fat." About their failing first date, Messer says that worst case, they get drunk and "hook up," but Holly is disgusted by that thought. She then gives him advice about not making a "booty call" in front of her (after he sets up another date later in the night while on a date with Holly). He then lies, saying that the caller was a sick friend, with her saying yeah right, "Are you gonna heal her with your magic penis?" We see Messer making out with a woman at a wedding while groping her clothed butt (both standing). Later, during the wedding photos, he twice gooses Holly's clothed butt. Messer comments on some girl being hot. Alison shows cleavage. Messer mockingly asks/tells Holly that she keeps her watch on during sex. Hearing about the babysitter who's coming over, Messer asks if she's hot and Peter says she she's totally hot, but he's joking as the young girl then arrives. Since that girl is so good with young Sophie (in calming her), Alison states that if Amy (the babysitter) was old enough to have sex with Peter, she (Alison) would be obsolete. A guy states that he and his partner (we think he's talking about his wife) used to have sex everywhere, but then the kid came along. We then see that he and his partner are gay. A woman jokes, "I don't touch meat...I mean with my lips." When Messer returns home from jogging, we see a woman in his bed under the sheets from the night before (we see her bare back). He kisses her in bed (he's clothed). We see Holly in a bubble bath as she makes calls trying to find the right Sam (based on his business card ending up in a bowl with others). We don't see anything beyond her partially bubble-covered bare back, but when she reaches a female Sam (as in Samantha), that woman seems interested in Holly, asking if she's single. Holly shows cleavage. A woman, who shows cleavage, states she'll be dancing at places called "Juggles" and "Bush League." About a judge granting Holly and Messer custody of Sophie, Messer is surprised the judge didn't ask them anything, and thus incredulously asks her how she knows they're not drug dealers or pimps. The judge then asks if they are and they say no. About ending up with Sophie, Messer mentions a "chick" from the past saying he didn't need to use a condom, but that he (now) still ended up with a kid. Holly comments on Messer's difficulty in removing Sophie's diaper, and he states it's not like a bra he's trying to take off a "chick." We see Sophie's bare butt as Holly and Messer shower her. Holly takes a bubble bath but we don't see anything. We see Sophie's bare butt as Messer holds her up from a bath. Messer says being a guy with a baby in the grocery store draws stares from women just like a woman with a "great rack" draws stares from men. When asked about his future by Janine, Messer jokes that maybe he'll get the director's job if his boss is "pinched with a tranny hooker." She then asks him and Holly if they're sleeping together, and both quickly say no, with him saying he gets plenty of that elsewhere and she says she got plenty of that in her past. Holly says Messer's problem is he doesn't listen to women who don't sleep with him. We briefly see some cheerleaders in sports bra type tops (showing cleavage and dancing about, etc.). Messer talks about his past when girls would buy him drinks and throw themselves (sexually) at him, and adds that he slept with the girl who sold him the shirt he's currently wearing. Holly then tells Messer that all he cares about is "getting laid." He then sarcastically replies, "You should probably get laid yourself," but then adds for her to have sex, she'd have to find somebody who can stand her. We see the bare back of a woman in bed with Messer in the morning (presumably after sex) and initially are led to believe it's Holly, but it's another woman (and they kiss). A neighbor woman lusts after Messer while watching him stretch before going for a jog. We see Holly in a bubble bath (nothing seen) and then rushing through the house in just a towel. We see Messer walk by the camera shot in just his underwear and drinking a beer. Holly accuses Messer, "You use Sophie to get laid" (meaning to pick up women who are attracted to him being with a baby). About Sam being a pediatrician and going on a date with Holly, Messer jokingly asks that if they have sex, will Sam tell her what percentile she's in. Later, Sam arrives, and as he heads out with Holly, Messer states she hasn't had any (sex) in a while. Holly kisses Sam. Holly shows some cleavage. Messer and Holly passionately kiss (clothed) and she then pushes him back against a wall and removes his shirt. They then end up in a bedroom and on the bed (he shirtless, she still clothed). The scene ends there, but sex is implied as we then see them under the covers in the spoons position (him behind her). We see Messer and Holly under the sheets (he's shirtless, but the sheets cover any nudity on her). Janine shows up to check on Messer and Holly and during the interview states, "C'mon people, you had sex." They admit to it, but she says in a situation like theirs, sex is like termites in that it makes for an unstable household (since they're not married). Friends and neighbors gossip about Messer and Holly, saying they're like cats in heat, that they "totally did it," and then something about a bet about how many months it would be before Holly slept with him. Sam and Holly briefly kiss. We hear Messer's outgoing phone answering message that says for the caller to leave him something dirty. Holly and Messer passionately kiss. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Although she's too young to realize the fact, Sophie's parents are killed in a car accident, thus resulting in Holly and Messer being named as her guardians. We see old footage of Peter and Alison arguing about him having painted Sophie's room before she came home. We hear that Sam is divorced. Holly worries when she hears Sophie has a urinary tract infection and rushes off to the emergency room to meet her, the babysitter and Messer. Holly doesn't tell Messer that she's selling their friends' house, leading (along with him not telling her about his job offer out of town) to an argument between them. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT What it takes to raise a child, especially if that's not in your plans. Holly gets a call that her friends have been killed in a car accident, and she learns that their child is in child protective services for the night. Messer then meets her at the police station and is equally distraught. Messer and Holly are shocked to learn their friends named them as guardians of their daughter, but never informed them of that. Messer says being a guy with a baby in the grocery store draws stares from women just like a woman with a "great rack" draws stares from men. The comment that having someone help you doesn't mean you failed, it means you're not alone. VIOLENCE Peter and Alison are killed in an unseen car accident. Messer accidentally drops Sophie (we don't see her hit the floor, and she's okay when he quickly picks her up) while trying to put her in a chest harness. With Sophie standing for the first time, Messer yells for Holly to come see her take her first step, but when she yells for him to stall Sophie, the first thing he can think to do is shove her (lightly) to the floor. Holly accidentally lets Messer's motorcycle get away from her and it goes across the street (rider-less) and hits the curb and a newspaper box. A bus then drives up and runs over the bike (no one is harmed). When Janine goes to take a brownie, Holly slaps it from her hand. She says it's a bad batch, but it's really a pot brownie. Reviewed October 2, 2010 / Posted October 8, 2010

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