Obvious Child

A thoroughly entertaining and engaging comedy/drama, Obvious Child follows struggling comedian Donna Stern (Jenny Slate) as she falls pregnant after a drunken one-night stand – with the remainder of the movie detailing Donna’s ongoing efforts at dealing with this life-changing event. First-time filmmaker Gillian Robespierre has infused Obvious Child with a heartfelt, engrossing feel that’s heightened by Slate’s revelatory performance, as the actress steps into the shoes of her appealing character to an absolutely (and consistently) astonishing degree – with Slate’s magnificent turn ensuring that Donna becomes a thoroughly charismatic and endearing figure right from the get-go. The compulsively watchable atmosphere is heightened by Robespierre’s naturalistic sensibilities, as the writer/director does a superb job of establishing Donna’s relationships with the various people in her life – including her divorced parents (Richard Kind’s Jacob and Polly Draper’s Nancy), her pragmatic best friend (Gaby Hoffman’s Nellie), and the father of her unborn baby (Jake Lacy’s Max). (It’s generally clear that the movie’s sweetest moments come courtesy of the central character’s ongoing interactions with the latter.) Obvious Child‘s shift from very good to great is triggered by several heartfelt and unexpectedly emotional moments that crop up in its final third, and there’s little doubt that Robespierre’s ability to comfortably balance comedy with drama ultimately confirms the film’s place as a seriously impressive debut – with Slate’s jaw-dropping turn as the affable protagonist surely marking the arrival of a fierce new acting talent.

**** out of ****