A Deadly Adoption (2015)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

When I saw that Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig had made a TV movie I was excited because I figured they must have found an amazing script to get them both to sign on. So I was a little bit disappointed when I got around to actually watching 'A Deadly Adoption' only to find a slightly above average movie by TV standards. What went on behind the scenes to get them both on board I'm not sure, but it certainly wasn't the script alone as I had hoped. Seeing Ferrell playing a serious role took me quite off guard at first. I hadn't actually seen any of the previous serious work he's done and only knew him for his comedic roles which he is the best in the business at. I wouldn't call his performance overly natural, he seemed like he had a slightly tough time adjusting to not just saying whatever hilarious line popped into his head. Wiig on the other hand I did find very natural. Her role wasn't written overly well and didn't give her a lot to do, however the scenes she did have she handled well and overshadowed Ferrell in the acting sense I'd have to say.There's a lot of "by the book" writing involved and the clichés are a little bit overbearing at times (ie. the gay best friend). For a TV movie though it's very watchable and the short runtime passes by quick enough. Often comedic actors like to delve into the world of serious films, with mixed results. Apparently Ferrell falls into that category as well. I hope he doesn't spend too much time trying it out though, because he would truly be a tremendous loss to the world of comedy if he did so. Worth a look but don't expect anything too special.

I'm not sure what this a was trying to be, I think like most people with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig attached I went into this expecting a parody of Lifetime movies. The problem is the parody is missing so all this is, is a Lifetime movie.Yes every cliché is used and emphasized just a little bit more (slow motion tragedy scenes, overbearing mood music, bright happy outdoor scenes, the gay best friend etc) and I did laugh a couple of times (Robert's little indiscretion while drunk off his ass during his book tour, "based on a true story" tagged on at the end) but this is not funny ha, ha like you'd be expecting. Wiig and Ferrell play it straight up until and for the most part including the final super HEA musical scene.I guess really the only parody thing this has going for it is how predictable it is; story, music situations. Lifetime movies are all a degree of bad so for this to work it had to be super bad or at least OTT, as it was it was just average. I'm left wondering what was the point? Ferrell plays Robert Benson a successful (bearded) author, wearer of bad khaki pants and husband to Sarah of organic food fame, Together they have a daughter 'Sully' and are expecting another when tragedy strikes (in slow motion) and Sarah loses the baby. 5 years later Robert is getting over a drinking binge and is overprotective of his precocious diabetic daughter. They are hoping to adopt when their agency introduces them to Bridgette, a beautiful and mysterious pregnant woman who the Bensons soon take into their home. All is not as it seems though and their dreams of adopting her unborn child soon go awry. 7/27/15

Satire is huge right now on the internet but not everyone can make it work. It's a difficult craft that has to have a balance of looking real enough to feel like it belongs with the product that is being made fun of but also ridiculous enough where (most) people don't fall for it and think it's real. "A Deadly Adoption," in my opinion, found that perfect formula.The film looks and feels like a real Lifetime Original (only with far better acting) and in that realism is where the film becomes very funny. This Lifetime movie never sits there and childishly mocks these specific types of film like you'd get from a "Scary Movie" or equally poorly produced parody. Instead, the film feels like a loving representation of Lifetime's products and, it is in that representation, that the humor is derived from. I found it to be a very creative and unique work of comedy and it was definitely entertaining to sit through. Not to mention, it's just cool that both Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell are refusing to allow their comedic talents to become stagnate and repetitive and it's pretty neat that Lifetime has a good enough sense of humor about itself and allowed this all happen.

I don't know what to make of this movie. It's got A list movie stars like Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig in a lifetime thriller. As it unfolds it becomes more like a spoof of a lifetime thriller. An evil woman scams a couple into thinking she's giving up her baby for them to adopt.Will Ferrell rising from being shot and going after the bad guys is just laugh out loud. The beautiful Jessica Lowndes is a good villain. And the way they were so happy even though their friends were killed and dancing around at the end is just ludicrous.Watch it for the stars but be warned it's weird.