Life Happens Movie Review: Vivacious, Tart And Sassy Sex Romp

By Prairie Miller    

A kind of Sex And The City: The Next Generation, Life Happens is a combination vivacious, tart, sweet and sassy 21st century girl romp that impresses with female screen sensibility on the edge. And coming into its own uniquely opinionated and snappy style, in terms of both characters and wildly creative conversations.

Former Gilmore Girl Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust The B- In Apartment 23, Veronica Mars)) ventures on to the big screen with assorted irreverent notions, as the star and co-writer of Life Happens, along with first time director, Kat Coiro. Ritter is Kim, a carefree young single living with similarly sexually adventurous females in a house in LA, and getting by financially speaking, as a dog walker. That is, until the night she and best friend Deena (Kate Bosworth) bring home of couple of hot hunks, and there's only one condom on the premises between them.

Photo: www.rottentomatoes.com

And after a more assertive Deena snaps up the rubber, Kim finds herself an unintended and reluctant but loving mom a year later. And with the absentee dad rock musician too busy for fatherhood at the moment, and likely forever. Consequently somewhat into denial about single motherhood, Kim proceeds to grasp at impromptu game plans to continue her life uninterrupted.

Which entails recruiting her displeased roommates as babysitters whenever possible, or else making do by strapping the accidental offspring to her back like an extra appendage, when venturing out into the world. While remaining a dog walker out of irrepressible canine love and despite the low pay, cutting corners financially by extended breast feeding instead of spending limited funds on baby food. A situation with sets the scene for the funniest moment in the movie, as Kim barges back into the dating scene as a highly secretive in the closet mom, with a hankering for club pickup and chronic baby hater, Nicolas (Geoff Stults).

Life Happens percolates throughout with spicy staccato dialogue, and the sort of loony when not lecherous kooks everywhere in sight, who always seem to populate LA in movies. But what initially dazzles tends to droop towards the narrative finish line, as the film opts for standard kiss and make up romantic comedy conventions. Instead of say, trying for something conclusive on the more satisfying outlandish side.

At the same time, too little seen Jason Biggs, also currently starring in American Reunion, turns up in an all too hasty cameo in this movie as what else. Yet another sulking trapped oversexed spouse, soured on propagation and marriage.

PMK-BNC Films
Rated R
2 1/2 stars

To see the Life Happens trailer:

Prairie Miller is a NY multimedia journalist online, in print and on radio, and on WBAI/Pacifica National Radio Network's Arts Express. Read more reviews by Prairie Miller. Contact Prairie through NewsBlaze. Read more stories by Prairie Miller.