| She's Having a Baby | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | John Hughes |
| Produced by | John Hughes Bill Brown Ronald Colby |
| Written by | John Hughes |
| Starring | Kevin Bacon Elizabeth McGovern |
| Music by | Stewart Copeland |
| Cinematography | Donald Peterman |
| Editing by | Alan Heim |
| Studio | Hughes Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | February 5, 1988 |
| Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $16,031,707 (United States) |
She's Having a Baby is a 1988 American romance film directed by John Hughes.
The film portrays a young newlywed couple, Kristy and Jake Briggs played by Elizabeth McGovern and Kevin Bacon, who try to cope with being married and what is expected of them by their parents. Jake must also deal with the fantasy woman of his dreams. The film is about traditional 1980s suburban life and the cultural expectations that come along with it. To a large extent what Jake experiences could be described as a form of culture shock, with his best man Davis (Alec Baldwin) as a reminder of his former culture as a single man, and feeling alienated when he overhears his neighbors converse about mundane suburban topics. He feels he has left the culture of single men, and has entered the culture of a married man, and doesn't appear to have a sense of belonging to either.
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This film is a look at the lives of Jake and Kristy Briggs, from their wedding day until the birth of their first child. Beginning on their wedding day, it follows both their lives, but more so Jake's, with his voice over commentaries and several imaginary scenes, based on actual or feared future events. After their wedding Jake and Kristy head off for New Mexico, where Jake works towards gaining a Masters Degree, but leaves before finishing, describing it as "high school with ashtrays". They return to Chicago where Jake, by "setting new records for lying in the job market", impresses his potential employers so much that they give him work as an advertising copywriter. Kristy also gains work, as a research analyst, and they are able to buy a "three bedroom mortgage" in the suburbs. Jake and Kristy then continue to adjust to their new life until Kristy unilaterally decides to cease taking contraceptives, without telling Jake, until after several months she informs him that he has been unable to impregnate her. They then begin a program to assist their efforts to become pregnant, which eventually succeed. The movie culminates with a traumatic yet eventually successful labour and Jake's realisation that his lack of satisfaction and sense of detachment are not due to external factors but his own selfishness and immaturity. The last scene of the film reveals that Jakes voice over was the new father reading his novel entitled "She's having a baby" to his wife and son. As the credits roll there is a rapid succession of suggestions for the name of the baby.
The film has 50% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and was alternately panned and praised by critics.[4]
In An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder director Kevin Smith cites She's Having a Baby as his favorite John Hughes movie. He also cites it as a template for Jersey Girl, joking that both movies were financially unsuccessful.
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