Labor Pains (2009)

Simply Perfect

One of my all time favorites.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

In a bizarre change of pace, direct-to-video action kings Millennium Pictures made this strange little movie. The plot is ripped off from the French movie "The Closet" - in that film, a man pretended he was gay so he wouldn't get fired, and in this film, Lohan pretends she's pregnant so she won't lose her job. It still could have been funny, being able to go off in different directions, but it falls flat. It was obviously shot on a limited budget and hastily filmed. Lohan is badly photographed and seems to have been without makeup. (And her character doesn't come across as a likable person.) You get to see the shadows of camera equipment TWICE. There seems to be footage missing or that was not filmed - Lohan's boyfriend, for example, is introduced in the opening minutes, and is not seen again for a half hour! (And we never see her talking to him about her scheme.) It's also never explained why Lohan for the longest time keeps her sister in the dark about what she's doing. But the worst thing about the movie is that it's not very funny. It's surprisingly low-key, when it should have been zanier. I didn't laugh once, chuckle once, or even smile once at any of the script's situations and dialogue. Maybe I'm not the audience for this movie - it seems aimed at women - but I think its true audience will be as disappointed with this movie as I am.

Thea (Lindsay Lohan) has been dealt a bad hand in the game of life, recently. After her parents were killed in an auto crash, she was forced to quit college and take charge of her high school aged sister. Since she lives in the Los Angeles area, expenses are high and it is a struggle. Thea slaves away at a relatively low-paying job as a personal assistant to a neurotic publisher. Her only allies and confidants are an associate publisher, Lisa (Cheryl Hines) and a goofy boyfriend, Miles (Aaron Yoo). But, one day, the boss' cherished pooch has an accident and the publisher leaves town to take the doggy to a hotshot clinic for therapy. Blaming Thea, he tries to give her the axe for the canine's troubles. But, thinking quickly, Thea declares that she is pregnant and, according to law, an expectant mother can't be fired during the duration. Bossman leaves in a huff. Taking over is his younger brother, Nick (Luke Kirby) who is much better at making decisions about books and sales. He also recognizes that Thea has a talent for publishing and, due to her condition, will make an excellent choice for editing a new tome on pregnancy he wants to present. Thea gets a raise and a new assignment. But, will everything fall apart when the firm realizes she's not expecting? And, does Thea have "eyes" for her new boss? This was quite a pleasant little film, made more worthwhile by the appearances of Lohan and Hines. For all her bad publicity, Lohan is a genuinely comic performer, with a dose of innocence and sweetness lacking in many other actresses her age. She does fine work here and is a joy to watch. Hines, on the other hand, is excellent at black humor and she contributes a big helping of comic edginess. The rest of the cast, mostly unknowns, are very nice, too. The settings, costumes, and production values are average, as befits a low-budget flick. Especially lacking was money for a good hair stylist, for Lohan's tresses are a messy tangle. Nevertheless, this movie is a good way to relax and have some fun after work hours. Romcom fans, take note.

Many people hate Lindsay Lohan.Thats a fact of life and to a point she brought this onto herself with her lifestyle and crazy tabloids.So,she's easy prey for anyone looking for anything she does which is less than great.This movie is much,much,much better than they will make you think it is.Its an average rom-com,on the weaker side but not bad at all.I've seen dozens of worse rom-coms and even more worse movies that people will call acceptable.But they don't star Lindsay Lohan. Personally i like Lindsay as an actress and especially in this type of movie where she can walk through this material blindfolded.She just has a natural gift for this type of disneyesque rom-com.She is also a doll.I don't like her tabloids but this didn't bother me in enjoying this movie. Especially at a time when,one is bombarded with all kinds of silly monster-alien-robot movies,such innocent cute movies are a breath of fresh air.

To be honest I really had more fun watching these "Based on the true story" titles my mother is keen on watching. This title is full of clichés, the plot is incomprehensible and the acting is mediocre at best.Thea Clayhill (Lindsay Lohan) is assistant to an editor and her job is very lousy (to say the least). She is very hardworking and she has to support her little sister Emma (Bridgit Mendler). She dates a local sandwich guy. When she steps on her bosses foot once too much he fires her but retracts his decision when she says she is pregnant (she isn't really). She steals a fake belly off the manikin in the store, comes to work and everybody buys it immediately.The worst thing about this movie is that everything feels unbelievable and underdeveloped. Are there really such publishing offices where every single male i sexist to the female secretary? How can a place like that still make an income when the main editor is caring about his dog 100 times more than about the books? They also say that the office is quite successful. The biggest question is why would anybody pretend to be pregnant to save the worst job in the world? Especially that it is established that Thea is hardworking.There suppose to be some discovery from the main character about the hardship of being pregnant but it all boils down to a single-sentence statements about the whole thing. To think that a pillow can pass as a pregnant belly for months is simply atrocious.We are suppose to believe that Thea has to put up with the job because she has a sister to support but their struggle seems nonexistent. Neither of the sister is bothered by their parents death (mabe it happened years ago), which itself is mentioned so briefly that suggest that even the director didn't think of it much. Even though this suppose to be the force behind Lindsay holding to the job.The cast makes the most of what the script is but because of their honest approach (as if this was a regular blockbuster) it seems even less entertaining. There is absolutely no chemistry between the male lead and Lindsay. As if every discriminated woman would fall for the first guy that shows them affection. The first relationship that she is in is even more bizarre - her boyfriend is a sandwich stand guy with two or three lines in the movie: one about the sandwiches and one toget her humiliated so the character can be discarded.I have to say I smiled a couple of times during the movie because of oddly inserted jokes like the breading lessons instructor "borrowing" a husband of one of the women in the class. But thats merely enough to push the movie to mediocre territory and certainly to little to wash the bad aftertaste of all of the other jokes.From the cast my favorite is the cocky little sister Emma. Bridgit Mendler seem right at home and act almost effortlessly. That is in contrast of Lindsay Lohan who, I have to say, seems inappropriate for the transition to mature roles (or maybe to very lousy ones) I'm giving it 3/10 for some rare mediocre jokes and Bridgit Mendler but the lasting impression is that I watched Straight-to-garbage production.