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Lainy (Amy Schumer) is eagerly anticipating her anniversary dinner with her partner, Dave (Damon Wayans Jr.), convinced that after four years together, he’s finally going to pop the question.
When dessert arrives, Lainy can hardly contain herself. Certain there’s an engagement ring hidden inside the heart-shaped chocolate cake, she dives in with her hands, tearing it apart, only to find disappointment. Instead of a proposal, Dave drops a bombshell: he wants to take their relationship to the next level… by having a threesome. What should have been one of the happiest moments of Lainy’s life turns into a nightmare. To make matters worse, her best friend, Kate (Jillian Bell), has just announced she’s pregnant.
On her way to meet Kate at a maternity clothing store, Lainy stops for coffee and has a chance encounter with Josh (Will Forte). The two share a moment, laughing over the fact that they’re both wearing the same Old Navy sweatshirt, but they part ways without exchanging numbers.
At the maternity store, Lainy impulsively steps into a dressing room and wants to see what she’d look like with a baby bump. When a store clerk peeks in and assumes she’s actually pregnant, Lainy doesn’t correct her, rather she leans in, fully committing to the lie. Kate may be expecting for real, but Lainy? She’s about to fake it till she makes it.
But how long can she keep up the act?
I love both Jillian Bell and Will Forte, which made it all the more disappointing to see them misused in this film. While there are a few genuinely funny moments, a supporting cast full of comedic talent deserves a better script. The premise, though not exactly groundbreaking, could have worked in the hands of a more capable writer.
The first red flag? Not only does Kinda Pregnant star Amy Schumer, but it’s also written by her. Schumer has built her career on trying to be a mainstream version of Lisa Lampanelli, relying on vulgarity for the sake of vulgarity. I have no problem with that kind of humor when it fits the story and serves a purpose, but here, it doesn’t.
The second red flag? It’s a Happy Madison production that doesn’t star Adam Sandler. History has shown that a Happy Madison film without Sandler is a serious gamble. Unfortunately, Kinda Pregnant belongs in the same category as Bucky Larson rather than the likes of a Paul Blart or Joe Dirt.
Despite a runtime of just 97 minutes, Kinda Pregnant felt like it took a full nine months to get through. It’s easy to see why Netflix quietly dumped it on a random Wednesday with zero fanfare.
🍿 SCORE = 20 / 100
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