Sunday, January 8, 2012

Currently Watching - Life as We Know It (2010)

Sweet movie.


Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is the owner of a small Atlanta bakery, and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel), known as "Messer", is a promising television technical sports director for the Atlanta Hawks, who will have sex with almost any girl he meets. Both are godparents of Sophie Christina Novak, the baby daughter of their friends Peter and Alison, who decide to set them up on a date. However, Holly and Messer have only two things in common: their mutual dislike and their love for their goddaughter.
After Peter and Alison die in a car crash, Holly and Messer learn that their friends have named them Sophie's joint guardians. Holly and Messer must put their differences aside and move into Sophie's home to care for her. However, living together proves to be a struggle. One night, Holly leaves Sophie with Messer while she covers an important catering job - the same night that he is given the opportunity to direct a big basketball game. Messer takes Sophie to the game, but she constantly distracts him with her crying. When they get home, Messer and Holly argue, but later they make up.
Holly meets Sam (Josh Lucas), Sophie's pediatrician, and finds herself attracted to him. They arrange a date, which is cut short when Messer calls to tell Holly that Sophie has a high fever. Sam and Holly go to the hospital, and Messer sees Holly kiss Sam.
As the two guardians continue to care for Sophie, they discover that raising a child is much more expensive than they had expected, and Holly can no longer afford to implement her plans to expand her business. Messer offers to invest in her company, and eventually Holly agrees. To cement the new relationship, they decide to go on a date. They have sex and begin to develop feelings for each other. Their Child Protective Services caseworker, who has previously advised them against getting involved, tells them they must make a firm commitment either to stay together or to break up. Anything in between would be bad for Sophie. Messer is offered a job in Phoenix, Arizona, and he seriously considers taking it up, as it has been his dream for several years. He does not, however, discuss it with Holly. When she finds out, an upset Holly tells him to go to Phoenix and accuses him of looking for a way out of raising Sophie.
At Thanksgiving Messer returns to Atlanta, hoping to patch things up with Holly, but finds her in a relationship with "Doctor Love" (Sam). Messer and Holly argue, because Sam mentions they are planning to sell the house soon, since it is too expensive. Messer insists it was Peter and Alison's wish that Sophie be raised in their house, by them together. Holly consistently accuses Messer of deserting her and Sophie, while Messer points out how quickly she replaced him. Messer leaves the dinner, planning to return to Phoenix. Once alone with Holly, Sam says that if he and his ex-wife had fought in the way that Messer and Holly did, they would still be together. He tells Holly it is obvious she needs to work out her feelings for Messer, and leaves.
The next morning, the caseworker comes for the last appointment to determine whether Holly and Messer are fit parents for Sophie. Holly realizes that she can't take care of Sophie without Messer, and that she loves him. She and Sophie drive to the airport with the caseworker. Holly rushes to buy tickets for all three of them, but, on arriving at the gate, finds that she has missed Messer. She returns to the house disappointed. To her surprise, she finds him sitting inside. He says he has realized that Peter and Alison chose them to be Sophie's guardians because they are a family. They kiss.
The film ends with Sophie's second birthday party, with neighbors, family and friends invited. Holly has made an elaborate cupcake display for Sophie, as well as a cake with the number 1 on it, to celebrate that she and Messer have completed one whole year together as a new family.

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