Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) are a couple in their early thirties expecting their first child. They live in a ramshackle house near Burt’s parents. When they learn that Burt’s parents are moving to Belgium for two years, they search for a place to raise their child. Their wanderings take them to visit friends and relatives in Phoenix, Tucson, Madison, Montreal and Miami.
Burt is a rather unsuccessful salesman of insurance futures, and Verona is a medical illustrator. Before embarking on their journey, May and Burt feel that everyone they know has their lives more together than they do. They soon realize, of course, that each of the people close to them have their own foibles and idiosyncrasies. If they are raising children, Maya and Burt quickly see their failings as parents.
The funniest and weirdest is Burt’s “cousin” LN, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. She is a university professor who believes in female empowerment and extreme attachment parenting. One of the film’s more amusing moments comes when Burt tries to present LN with a stroller. She feels that strollers are evil, since, as she so amusingly states, “why would I want to push my child away?” Burt offers the stroller directly to LN’s three year old son Wolfie who laughs hysterically while Burt pushes him around LN’s house.
Verona and Burt eventually realize that as long as they love each other and their child, and try to do the right thing, they will make fine parents. And they eventually do settle on a place to live that is just right for them.
I really enjoyed this movie, but I think it really is a chick flick. While leaving the theater, I heard one man say to his female companion “You liked that? I don’t get the point.”
La Bibliofille 