Obvious Child

Name: Obvious Child
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: June 6, 2014
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Cindy Cheung, David Cross, Gabe Liedman, Gaby Hoffmann, Jake Lacy

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

See All

6.6

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.6	Your Score
6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Obvious Child

Now Playing: Obvious Child

Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: June 6, 2014 | R

Starring: Cindy Cheung, David Cross, Gabe Liedman, Gaby Hoffmann, Jake Lacy, Jenny Slate, Paul Briganti, Polly Draper, Richard Kind

Summary: For aspiring comedian Donna Stern (Jenny Slate), everyday life as a female twenty-something provides ample material for her incredibly relatable brand of humor. On stage, Donna is unapologetically herself, joking about topics as intimate as her sex life and as crude as her day-old underwear. But when Donna gets dumped, loses her job, andFor aspiring comedian Donna Stern (Jenny Slate), everyday life as a female twenty-something provides ample material for her incredibly relatable brand of humor. On stage, Donna is unapologetically herself, joking about topics as intimate as her sex life and as crude as her day-old underwear. But when Donna gets dumped, loses her job, and finds herself pregnant just in time for Valentine’s Day, she has to navigate the murky waters of independent adulthood for the first time. As she grapples with an uncertain financial future, an unwanted pregnancy, and a surprising new suitor, Donna begins to discover that the most terrifying thing about adulthood isn’t facing it all on her own. It’s allowing herself to accept the support and love of others. And be truly vulnerable. Never failing to find the comedy and humanity in each awkward situation she encounters, Donna finds out along the way what it means to be as brave in life as she is on stage.… Expand

Director: Gillian Robespierre

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 84 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Alonso Duralde

Jun 5, 2014

The only agenda of this scruffy and urbane comedy, about a young comic contemplating abortion, is to be true and funny. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Jun 12, 2014

There are as many awkward, discomfiting sequences in Obvious Child as there are interludes of genuine fun and romance. The result is a movie that feels risky and forgiving and, despite its traditional rom-com contours, refreshingly new. Read full review

Genevieve Koski

Jun 3, 2014

Despite its attention-grabbing logline and gleeful embrace of raunchy, frequently scatological humor, Obvious Child is at heart a well-realized, straight-ahead rom-com, one with the potential to reinvigorate a genre that’s been flagging for decades. Read full review

Ed Frankl

Sep 22, 2014

This is a film of ideas, but it's a comedy first, and its boldness is that it doesn't aim to address a pro-choice or pro-life stance - it's about Donna just getting on with it all the same. Read full review

Peter Travers

Jun 5, 2014

Obvious Child is a romcom with a sting in its tail. And Slate is a dynamo, nailing every laugh while showing a true actor's gift for nuance. Read full review

Joe Williams

Jun 26, 2014

Sorry, partisans, but there’s nothing obvious about Obvious Child. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Jun 4, 2014

No, this film by director/co-writer Gillian Robespierre just isn’t funny, and the mismatched leads aren’t even interesting together. Read full review

SEE ALL 35 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Jillofalltrades

Mar 8, 2020

I really liked this movie. Yes at times it was crude but all in all it dealt with real life issues and how some feel when dealing with them. Truth! The actress Jenny Slate is great. I wish she had more female lead roles.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

joan

Jun 12, 2014

Wow. So honest. So funny. I'm so glad I saw it. Not like any rom com I've ever seen (including indies). Jenny Slate is a great great talent. The rest of the cast is perfect. I hope lots of people get to see it.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

DumbCritic

Dec 9, 2014

Obvious Child does not beg you to like it and in doing so, creates a real relationship between the story teller and the viewer. Robespierre centres her talented cast around Jenny Slate, who's performance boasts both hilarity and subtle emotion, so that even the coldest of us end up rootingObvious Child does not beg you to like it and in doing so, creates a real relationship between the story teller and the viewer. Robespierre centres her talented cast around Jenny Slate, who's performance boasts both hilarity and subtle emotion, so that even the coldest of us end up rooting for her as a protagonist. It's refusal to make a grandiose statement on behalf of a community makes this movie both relatable and contemplative, forcing the viewer to imagine themselves in such a position. Only the most hardened fundamentalist should have an issue with this film, despite your personal beliefs on the subject.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

BrianMcCritic

Oct 8, 2014

I can respect a film that shows what everyday life is like when sometimes the unexpected happens. Yes as someone who considers himself pro life I still get that the decision is a hard one to make which this film makes you feel. B

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Brent_Marchant

Jun 14, 2014

A fine showcase for the standup comedy of Jenny Slate and an entertaining vehicle for a cast of colorful supporting characters -- but not much else. The thin, unimpressive script always feels like it's leading somewhere but never arrives at a recognizable destination. Watch the trailer, andA fine showcase for the standup comedy of Jenny Slate and an entertaining vehicle for a cast of colorful supporting characters -- but not much else. The thin, unimpressive script always feels like it's leading somewhere but never arrives at a recognizable destination. Watch the trailer, and you'll pretty much see what this underwhelming offering is all about.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

ariel84

Oct 11, 2014

i really wanted to like this. i liked parts of it. the trope of the brooklyn almost-30-person-who's-still-a-child is played out. everything that donna had to say was clever and funny, but, really, who talks like that all the time? and, of course, she doesn't have anything resembling a reali really wanted to like this. i liked parts of it. the trope of the brooklyn almost-30-person-who's-still-a-child is played out. everything that donna had to say was clever and funny, but, really, who talks like that all the time? and, of course, she doesn't have anything resembling a real job. the ultimate goy boyfriend was annoying. as were the coincidences. worth watching for jenny slate. hope she graduates to a better role next time.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Kenjupjup

May 12, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. From the beginning, the movie is bad. Although you expect it to get better, it just gets worse. The main character is very pessimistic and she makes the movie even more depressing than it already is. It made for a a really bad background. In addition, the movie appear to encourage abortion, and it appears to make fun of the fact that all of those women are killing a child, even if it is not even born yet. Finally, the main character makes fun of abortions among other things, which are not even funny.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 24 REVIEWS