What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012 film)

Structure and principal contributors

Rather than following a single protagonist, the film uses an ensemble format: multiple couples and individuals experience overlapping crises, joys and misunderstandings related to starting a family. This multi-thread structure allows the script to present a cross-section of pregnancy-related experiences such as planned and unplanned pregnancies, fertility challenges, adoption and the anxieties of first-time parenting.

• Directed by Kirk Jones and edited by Michael Berenbaum.
• Screenplay by Shauna Cross and Heather Hach, adapting source material that is non-fiction in nature.
• Music composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, a contributor to the film's light, buoyant score.

Production and adaptation

Adapting a best-selling how-to book into a narrative film required converting general advice and anecdotes into dramatic scenes and character arcs. Producers involved included Mike Medavoy and others working with companies such as Alcon Entertainment and Phoenix Pictures. The production shot primary scenes in the Atlanta region and surrounding locations, reflecting a contemporary, urban American setting for the ensemble's stories. For background on the film's setting and some location work, see reporting linked to the Atlanta area.

Themes and portrayal

The film foregrounds themes common to parenthood narratives: the clash between expectations and reality, the strain placed on relationships by impending parenthood, and the social and medical challenges couples face. Tone shifts between broad comedy and earnest sentiment, aiming to appeal to audiences seeking both laughs and emotional candor. Performances from a large cast are used to dramatize practical issues—doctor visits, birthing classes, and the domestic adjustments that follow childbirth—while also mining comedic situations from the unpredictable nature of pregnancy.

Reception and notable facts

On release, the film attracted attention for its ensemble format and the challenge of turning a non-fiction handbook into a feel-good romantic comedy. Critics and audiences responded with mixed opinions: many praised the cast's chemistry and moments of warmth, while others found the tonal shifts and episodic plotting uneven. Commercially the picture reached a broad audience through its wide release and marketing aimed at expecting parents and fans of romantic-comedy ensembles.

Further reading

For more on the film's production team and contributors, see coverage of producer Mike Medavoy and profiles of the composer Mark Mothersbaugh. Additional information on the original book by Heidi Murkoff and its influence on popular culture is available through general reference sources and film industry reports.