Parents' Guide to

Life as We Know It

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Predictable romcom explores mature aspects of parenting.

Movie PG-13 2010 112 minutes
Life as We Know It Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 13 parent reviews

Seaview9
Seaview9 Adult
February 15, 2021
age 12+

Life as we know it

I’m confused why people call this a ‘critical failure’. This movie is really beautiful and an amazing but sad idea. Very well casted, absolutely love josh duhamel performance
Momma comma
Momma comma Parent of baby, 5 and 7-year-old
July 16, 2013
age 10+

Katherine hiegel+ josh duhamel = the best

Holly gets drunk and her and meiser eat pot brownies. Some sex scenes aka in bed together. Families can mix together if you try hard. Plus families are amazing to have if you try. Holly is an amazing person and a hardworking mom and baker. She rubs off. The baby is adorable.
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Put-together caterer Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and womanizing TV-sports producer Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) were once set up on a blind date by their best friends, Alison (Christina Hendricks) and Peter (Hayes MacArthur), but they quickly realized that they couldn't stand each other -- but that doesn't prevent Alison and Peter from naming the "frenemies" godparents after they get married and have a baby girl, Sophie. When Alison and Peter are killed a car accident, Sophie, now 1, is left with Holly and Messer, who are expected to live in their friends' house and raise their daughter. As the odd couple settles into their unconventional routine, they find themselves falling in love, despite instructions from the child welfare case worker not to "complicate" their situation by getting together romantically. And when a tough choice arises, things get even trickier.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13 ):
Kids say (34 ):

For moviegoers who like watching good-looking people fall in love -- with a baby and each other -- LIFE AS WE KNOW IT is an easy (if unremarkable) film to see. Heigl, who's an undeniably charming actress, has made quite a few stinkers, particularly The Ugly Truth, which was full of sexist messages. And while this movie at first affirms the tired idea that hardworking, career-minded women like Holly are somehow less desirable than the beautiful but "easy" women that Messer beds, the irresistible baby and the relatable theme of juggling parenthood with being yourself makes this a slight improvement -- albeit still overwhelmingly clichéd (and nowhere near the greatness that was Knocked Up).

Director Greg Berlanti -- who has an impressive track record with TV dramas like Dawson's Creek, Everwood, and Brothers & Sisters -- can't help relying on certain clichés that are OK in hourlong dramas you grow to love season to season but bog down a romantic comedy in eye-rolling predictability. A story about an uptight, organized woman clashing with a carefree, fun-loving man until they stumble into love and tumble into bed together can lead to a satisfying arc on primetime, but here it's simply amusing, because we know exactly what's going to happen. At least Heigl and Duhamel have passable chemistry.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's messages about family. Do the characters make a believable family unit? Why or why not?

  • Holly and Messer drink on several occasions and also make and eat pot brownies. What's the impact of portraying grown-up characters who like to drink regularly and use marijuana "once a year"?

  • Is the movie predictable? Does that make the end any less satisfying?

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