Unexpected (2015 film)
| Unexpected | |
|---|---|
_POSTER.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kris Swanberg |
| Produced by |
Andrea Roa Chris Webber |
| Written by |
Megan Mercier Kris Swanberg |
| Starring |
Cobie Smulders Gail Bean Anders Holm Elizabeth McGovern |
| Music by | Keegan DeWitt |
| Cinematography | Dagmar Weaver-Madsen |
| Edited by | Zach Clark |
| Distributed by | The Film Arcade |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Unexpected is a 2015 American drama film written by Kris Swanberg and Megan Mercier. It stars Cobie Smulders as a teacher at an inner city Chicago high school who unintentionally becomes pregnant. One of her students, Jasmine (Gail Bean), is also unexpectedly pregnant, and the two bond through planning their futures. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2015.[1] The film was released in a limited release and through video on demand on July 24, 2015, by The Film Arcade.
Plot
An inner-city high school teacher develops an unlikely friendship with one of her most promising students while struggling to navigate their unexpected pregnancies.
Cast
- Cobie Smulders as Samantha Abbott
- Gail Bean as Jasmine
- Anders Holm as John
- Elizabeth McGovern as Samantha's mother
Production
Swanberg took about two years to write the film's script. The film was shot in West Humboldt Park and East Garfield Park, Chicago, but takes place in Englewood.[2] Cobie Smulders was pregnant during filming. The coinciding of Smulders' pregnancy with that of her character was not intentional.[1] The film was completed in October 2014.[3]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2015.[1] Shortly after it was announced, The Film Arcade had acquired distribution rights to the film.[4] The film was released on July 24, 2015, in a limited release, and through video on demand.[5]
Reception
Unexpected was met with positive reviews. Film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 67% score, with an average rating of 6.4/10, based on reviews from 51 critics. The website's consensus reads, "Unexpected proves a thoughtful and well-acted — if somewhat mild — look at worthy, thought-provoking themes.[6] On Metacritic, the film holds a 65 out of 100, sampled from 20 film critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[7]
Accolades
| List of awards and nominations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award / Film festival | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
| Sundance Film Festival | Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic | Kris Swanberg | Nominated | [8] |
References
- 1 2 3 Olsen, Mark (January 24, 2015). "Sundance 2015: Cobie Smulders pregnant on-screen and off in 'Unexpected'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- ↑ Towers, Andrea. "Cobie Smulders tackles motherhood in Sundance film 'Unexpected' -- exclusive photo". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ↑ Douglas, Edward. "Sundance: Kris Swanberg Teams with Cobie Smulders for Unexpected". ComingSoon.net.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick (February 9, 2015). "Sundance Pic ‘Unexpected’ Acquired By Film Arcade". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- ↑ Canfield, David (April 28, 2015). "Cobie Smulders Faces the 'Unexpected' in Exclusive Poster Debut". Indiewire. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- ↑ "Unexpected (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Unexpected". Metacritic. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Interview: Kris Swanberg". Raising Films. August 10, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.