Here’s a nice little comedy that should appeal to the ladies and gentlemen who accompany them. It’s called Life Happens and has a few twists I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the performances by Krysten Ritter, Kate Bosworth and especially Rachel Bilson. Catch it while it’s hot!
The movie centers on three women Kim (Ritter), Deena (Bosworth) and Laura (Bilson) who are roommates in a small house. The three go along with their lives working, dating and sharing daily stories. During a one-night stand Kim finds herself in a pinch when she realizes she’s out of condoms, but takes a chance. Two month’s later her world turns upside down when she discovers she’s pregnant.
The situation comedy gets out of control when the baby arrives and there’s not much room in the small house for three women with very different personalities. I enjoyed the trio of actors who have amazing chemistry on the screen. It’s sisterhood personified until the little tyke changes everything.
Director Kat Coiro keeps her film complicated and comedy filled with Ritter being the center of most of the laughter and concern. Coiro puts Kim in some very funny situations all of which are handled nicely by Ritter. As the sophisticated Deena, Bosworth gives a fine performance trying to cope with the household situation but finally has to let Kim go to find a new life as a single mother.
Life Happens keeps the laughter running throughout with the excellent performance by Rachel Bilson as the ditsy Laura who pays her share of the rent from some of the most irreverent jobs. Coiro creates the air headed member of the trio and Bilson handles her wacky personality with ease. She’s a breath of fresh air relieving the serious tone whenever the situation takes a downward dip.
Life Happens has been rated R by the MPAA for sexual content including references. Whether it’s a night out for the ladies or diner and a movie for the guys, this little gem serves up big portions of life and laughter.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A good situation comedy. [rating=5]
Additional Film Information:
- Cast: Krysten Ritter, Kate Bosworth and Rachel Bilson, with Jason Biggs
- Directed by: Kat Coiro
- MPAA Rating: Rated R for sexual content including references
- Genre: Comedy
- Running Time: 1 hr 40 min
- Opening Date: April 13, 2012
- Distributed by: PMK-BNC Films
EDITOR’S NOTE: Kat Coiro attended Southwood Middle School for the Arts in South Miami. Kat was a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts /Young Arts finalist in 1998 and taught theater at the University of Miami summer arts camp.
“L!fe Happens’!”art director is Emmy Eves, Kat’s sister, who attended elementary and middle school in South Beach and graduated from Design and Architecture Senior High in 2002. Although both women live in Los Angeles, they have called Miami their home for more than two decades.
Her dad, Peter Eves & mother started the South Beach institution, Tap Tap Restaurant twenty years ago. Since Tap Tap, her mother worked for M-DCPS establishing the film program at Miami Beach Senior High and as videographer for Miami attorney Cheryl Little. Her mother serves on the board of Romance in the Can European Film Festival, teach teachers in Haiti and collaborates with Miami Light Project.
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
