This is one of those movies that is a collection of both wonderful and lousy elements, but the good ultimately overwhelms the bad. The basic story of a young married couple is a heartfelt winner with laughs and real-life truth aplenty. The chemistry between Jake (Kevin Bacon) and Kristi (Elizabeth McGovern) is amazing, and the terrific soundtrack adds to the movie at every turn.
Unfortunately, the writing is uneven and often clumsy. Throughout the movie, Jake is confused about what he wants out of life, yet the viewer is left confused, too. Jake’s longing for “something else” in life is left so undefined that the viewer can’t really relate to his angst. Jake’s narration continually refers to life “closing in on him” and such, yet it appears things are going fairly well for him, so why the heartburn? One keeps waiting for a big scene where Jake is finally able to enunciate what his problem is, but it never happens.
The worst element of the film by far is the character of Davis (Alec Baldwin), Jake’s best friend from high school. Jake is immature, but basically a nice guy. But Davis is portrayed as such an unredeemable jerk (Baldwin basically just had to be himself here) that it is nearly impossible to ever see how these two could have ever stood to be around each other, much less have the brother-like relationship it is claimed they have. He shows up in three scenes, and he’s a bigger jerk each time. During his third scene, he convinces Kristi to give him a “goodnight kiss” (totally unbelievable), only to be rebuffed when he tries to take things further. After spurning his advances, Kristi informs him that she won’t tell Jake about the matter because “you have your good points.” Really? Which ones?
While the film is highly cynical toward marriage and family in many ways — bickering parents, prying parents-in-law, squaresville suburbs inhabited by men obsessed with their lawn mowers, etc. — it in the end affirms the marital relationship by showing its redeeming power in the lives of Kristi and Jake. Funny, poignant, and well-acted, this movie will stay with you for years after viewing it.
Unlike romantic comedies that show how a couple formed then leaves you there in the puppy-love bliss uncertain of how things turn out long-term, this movie explores what happens after the lifetime vows are made. When it’s over, there is no doubt in the viewer’s mind that this is a union which will stand the test of time. In this day and age, that is something worth cheering for.
Cast
- Kevin Bacon – Jefferson ‘Jake’ Edward Briggs
- Elizabeth McGovern – Kristen ‘Kristy’ Briggs
- Alec Baldwin – Davis McDonald
- William Windom – Russ Bainbridge
- Holland Taylor – Sarah Briggs
- Cathryn Damon – Gayle Bainbridge
- John Ashton – Ken
Tags: 1990, She's Having a Baby