SimonJack
This 1995 comedy-romance is a reflection of the mores by the late 20th century in America, especially the metropolitan scene. The lead characters are an unmarried couple, Samuel and Rebecca, who have been living together for five years. They have good careers and enjoy life together. They have frequent sex and practice contraception because they haven't wanted to have children. They say they are in love. So far, they have liked the arrangement that might be spoiled if they were to marry. But seeing children in other families, Rebecca asks Samuel if he wouldn't like to have more in life. Samuel has been content and doesn't want to have to change. When she gets pregnant, their lives do change. "Nine Months" has a mixture of comedy and seriousness. But, much of the comedy and some of the dialog is crude or crass. Hugh Grant plays Samuel and Julianne Moore is Rebecca. Tom Arnold, as Marty Dwyer, is the source of much of the crudity of this film. The guy seems to play those roles mostly. What little humor he may add is lost due to his loud and crude antics and dialog. He's a brother-in-law of a mutual friend, Sean Fletcher, played by Jeff Goldblum. The movie has a fine outcome as Samuel changes and is changed by the new life in their lives. Robin Williams has a comedy part as a Russian doctor, and he vies with Arnold for crudity with his dialog. Joan Cusack is a balancing character in the film, with some humor and sense, as Marty's wife, Gail. This film is about finding more in life beyond the sensual pleasures which are self-centered. Rebecca wants more than that, and, in time, Samuel wants it with her. So, he sheds his selfishness. Some people really don't want more in life, so they wouldn't enjoy this type of film. As Sean says, he may wind up all alone in the end. But he'll just keep on going and adjust his attitude to take his mind off of it.
SnoopyStyle
Child psychologist Samuel Faulkner (Hugh Grant) is in a perfect happy relationship with Rebecca Taylor (Julianne Moore). That is until she brings up the M word "Marriage". They are hounded by married couple Marty (Tom Arnold) and Gail Dwyer (Joan Cusack) with their rambunctious daughters. Rebecca tells Samuel that she's pregnant. Their friend Sean Fletcher (Jeff Goldblum) is perpetually single with a series of young girlfriends. Kosevich (Robin Williams) is a weird Russian doctor with bad English. Samuel keeps whining. Rebecca eventually leaves Samuel and moves in with the Dwyers.I usually like Hugh Grant's hamming and hawing in his rom-coms. This commitment phobic version is much less endearing and rather annoying. For some reason, Tom Arnold keeps showing up like a bad rash. Jeff Goldblum's character is equally horrible. The whole movie is one annoying character after another. The broad comedy could have worked if I actually care about anybody in this movie. In a fight between Samuel and Marty, I root for a double knockout. I'd probably also throw in Robin Williams and Jeff Goldblum into the ring. Julianne Moore is rather bland but has a couple of funny moments. Director Chris Columbus is somehow tone deaf and the praying mantis is very creepy. The jokes keep falling flat.
slightlymad22
Hugh Grant's first Hollywood feature film was made a year after Four Weddings & A Funeral, and he co starred with Julianne Moore, who had been around awhile, appearing in small but significant roles in movies like 'Benny & Joon' and 'The Fugitive'. Tom Arnold, Joan Cusack and Jeff Goldblum are all here giving good support, but it's Robin Williams who steals the movie as a nervous Russain doctor. Grant and Moore play a couple who have been in love for five happy years. Then she unexpectedly falls pregnant. She is happy about it, but he's horrified by the idea.It's hard to root for Grant as the hero of the piece as he is a selfishly, arrogant, self centred cliché of an unwilling Dad to be. The fact that he keeps seeing Arnold and Cusack and their brood of disruptive kids only ads his horror. I liked Arnold and Cusack so much, I actually thought they could have had their own spin off movie! Something in the vein of 'National Lampoons Vacation' Likewise Williams Russain doctor. He gives the movie it's only real big laughs. Something I need to point out, is Hans Zimmer's score, it is beautiful.Sadly this movie suffers massively from it's predictability. Everybody knows how it will end, the supposed fun is supposed to come on the journey to the obvious happy conclusion. But it's just not there, there is very little charm here and it's the fault of Grant's character being so selfish. Admittedly if he was supportive from the get go, we would not have much of a movie.
Shopaholic35
This is a really enjoyable movie that is easy to watch any time it comes on television. There are some scenes that are a little unbearable to watch like the trip to the hospital. What the hell is wrong with him and if this was real life they would have plowed through a brick wall driving like that.I feel that this movie truly proves that in life not everybody should become parents. There are the couple who believe loving their kids and not disciplining their children makes them understanding and good parents. In reality those "breeders" are bad parents and should be forced into parenting classes. Then there's the couple who have no idea what they are doing which turns them into complete and utter baboons, well Hugh Grant's character at least. I find it funny because it seems so outrageous but the problem is there are many people like this. Thank god many parents seem to have some common sense and instinct. But all in all it is quite funny if you can move past the cringe factor.
AD
