Life as We Know It (film)

Last updated
Life as We Know It
Life as We Know It Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Greg Berlanti
Written byIan Deitchman
Kristin Rusk Robinson
Produced by Barry Josephson
Paul Brooks
Starring
Cinematography Andrew Dunn
Edited byJim Page
Music by Blake Neely
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • October 8, 2010 (2010-10-08)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$38 million [1] [2]
Box office$105.7 million [2]

Life as We Know It is a 2010 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Greg Berlanti, starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. It was released on October 8, 2010, after sneak previews in 811 theaters on October 2, 2010. It was a financial success at the box office.

Contents

Plot

Holly Berenson is the owner of a small Atlanta bakery, and Eric Messer is a promising television technical sports director for the Atlanta Hawks. Their best friends, Peter and Alison, set them up on a blind date that goes horribly wrong and results in both hating each other with a passion. As the years go by, Peter and Alison get married, have a baby girl named Sophie, and select Holly and Eric –who teasingly tolerate each other –as the godparents.

Shortly after Sophie's first birthday, Peter and Alison are killed in a car crash. Holly and Eric learn that their friends named them Sophie's joint guardians. After finding that none of Peter and Alison's relatives are fit to take care of Sophie, Holly and Eric put their differences aside and move into Sophie's home. Living together proves to be a struggle. One night, Holly is away at an important catering job when Eric is given the opportunity to direct a big basketball game. Eric takes Sophie with him, but her crying distracts him, leading to him making a big mistake on the broadcast. When they get home, Eric and Holly argue, but later they make up.

Holly goes on a date with Sam, Sophie's pediatrician. The date is cut short when Eric calls to tell Sam that Sophie has a high fever. When they join him at the hospital, Eric sees Holly kiss Sam. Over time, the guardians discover that raising a child is more expensive than they had expected, and Holly can no longer afford to expand her business. Eric helps by investing in her company, and they cement the new relationship by going on a date, which ends with them having sex and developing strong feelings.

Their Child Protective Services caseworker, Janine, tells them they must make a firm commitment, either to stay together, or break up, as waffling in between would be bad for Sophie. Eric is offered his dream job with the Phoenix Suns, and doesn't discuss it with Holly. When she finds out, she tells him to take the job, accusing him of looking for a way out of raising Sophie. At Thanksgiving break, Eric returns from Phoenix for a visit, hoping to patch things up with Holly.

She invites him to a dinner that she and Sam are hosting for neighbors and friends. Eric and Holly argue when he learns she is planning to sell the house soon, as the upkeep is too costly. Holly accuses Eric of deserting her and Sophie, while Eric points out how quickly she replaced him. Eric tells her he loves her, but leaves the dinner, planning to return to Phoenix. Once alone with Holly, Sam says that if he and his former wife had fought in the way that Eric and Holly did, they would still be together. He tells Holly to work out her feelings for Eric, and leaves. That night, Sophie calls Holly "Mama" for the first time.

Janine visits to make her final determination whether Holly and Eric are fit parents. Holly realizes that she can't take care of Sophie without Eric, and that she loves him. She, Sophie and Janine rush to the airport, but on reaching the gate, finds that Eric's flight has departed. She returns to the house, where she finds him sitting inside. He tells her he has realized that Peter and Alison chose them to be Sophie's guardians because, together, they are a loving family. A few months later, they host Sophie's second birthday party, with all the neighbors and friends in attendance. Holly has made a second cake, with the number 1 on it, telling Eric, "It's for us, 'cause we made it a year" before they kiss.

Cast

Production

Filming took place on location, in a house in the wealthy Buckhead area of Atlanta. [3] Holly Berenson's bakery was depicted at Belly General Store in Virginia-Highland, a century-old bungalow-style neighborhood with several small-scale historic retail clusters, a few miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta. [4] Scenes from Eric's workplace were filmed at Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) off Techwood Drive in Atlanta. Filming also took place at Philips Arena. [5]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 30% based on 154 reviews and an average rating of 4.60/10. The critics consensus reads: "Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel make a charming couple with plenty of chemistry, but that isn't enough to make up for Life as We Know It's formulaic plot and poorly written script." [6] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 39 out of 100 based on 31 critic reviews, meaning "generally unfavorable reviews". [7] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale. [8]

Release

Despite having been a critical failure, Life as We Know It had a successful run at the box office, bringing in $53.4 million in the United States and over $105 million worldwide against a $38 million budget.

Related Research Articles

<i>Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!</i> 2004 film by Robert Luketic

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic, written by Victor Levin and starring Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, Josh Duhamel, Gary Cole, Ginnifer Goodwin, Sean Hayes and Nathan Lane. The film follows a small-town girl (Bosworth) who wins a contest for a date with a male celebrity (Duhamel) and a love triangle forms between the girl, the star and the girl's best friend (Grace).

<i>Hide and Seek</i> (2005 film) 2005 American film

Hide and Seek is a 2005 American psychological thriller film starring Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning. It was directed by John Polson. Albert Hughes was initially set to direct, making his debut as a solo director, but left due to creative differences.

<i>Knocked Up</i> 2007 romantic comedy film by Judd Apatow

Knocked Up is a 2007 American romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Judd Apatow, and starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel and Martin Starr. It follows the repercussions of a drunken one-night stand between a slacker and a recently promoted media personality that results in an unintended pregnancy.

<i>Clean Slate</i> (1994 film) 1994 American film

Clean Slate is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Mick Jackson. The film stars Dana Carvey as a private investigator who is the key witness in a murder case. After suffering a head injury, however, he has developed a rare form of amnesia that causes him to forget anything that happened to him the previous day, which makes it hard for him to know whom to trust, or if he even knows them at all. Valeria Golino, James Earl Jones, Michael Murphy, Michael Gambon, Bryan Cranston, and Kevin Pollak co-star.

<i>Model Behavior</i> 2000 television film by Mark Rosman

Model Behavior is a 2000 television film that aired on ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney anthology series. The film starred Maggie Lawson, Justin Timberlake in his film debut, and Kathie Lee Gifford, and was directed by Mark Rosman. It is based on the book Janine and Alex, Alex and Janine by Michael Graubart Levin. It is also a modern-day gender-bending take on the classic story The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Izzie Stevens</span> Fictional character from the television show Greys Anatomy

Isobel Katherine Stevens, M.D. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, which airs on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. The character was created by series producer Shonda Rhimes, and was portrayed by actress Katherine Heigl from 2005 to 2010. Introduced as a surgical intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, Izzie worked her way up to resident level, while her relationships with her colleagues Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Alex Karev and George O'Malley formed a focal point of the series.

<i>Mamma Mia!</i> (film) 2008 film by Phyllida Lloyd

Mamma Mia! is a 2008 jukebox musical romantic comedy film directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Catherine Johnson, based on her book from the 1999 musical of the same name. The film is based on the songs of pop group ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson. The film features an ensemble cast, including Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, and Julie Walters. The plot follows a young bride-to-be who invites three men to her upcoming wedding, with the possibility that any of them could be her father. The film was an international co-production between Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and was co-produced by Playtone and Littlestar Productions.

<i>27 Dresses</i> 2008 film by Anne Fletcher

27 Dresses is a 2008 American romantic comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher, written by Aline Brosh McKenna, and starring Katherine Heigl and James Marsden. The film was released in the United States on January 18, 2008. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $162.7 million against its $30 million budget.

<i>Madea Goes to Jail</i> 2009 parodic comedy drama directed by Tyler Perry

Madea Goes to Jail is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tyler Perry, which was based on his 2006 play, and starring Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ion Overman, RonReaco Lee, Sofía Vergara, Vanessa Ferlito, and Viola Davis. The film tells the story of Madea going to prison for her uncontrollable anger management problems as she befriends a young incarcerated prostitute whom an assistant district attorney has known since college. The film was released on February 20, 2009. It is the fourth film in the Madea cinematic universe as it follows up from the cameo appearance of Madea in the previous film Meet the Browns and it features Cora and Mr. Brown from that film.

<i>Wish Upon a Star</i> 1996 television film directed by Blair Treu

Wish Upon a Star is a 1996 American fantasy comedy-drama television film directed by Blair Treu, written by Jessica Barondes, and starring Katherine Heigl and Danielle Harris. The film focuses on two teenage sisters who magically swap bodies after wishing on a shooting star. The tagline of the film is "I Wish I May, I Wish I Might, Become My Sister For A Night!".

<i>Perkins 14</i> 2009 American film

Perkins' 14 is a 2009 horror film originated by Jeremy Donaldson, written by Lane Shadgett, and directed by Craig Singer. The film is produced by Jeremy Donaldson, Matthew Kuipers, and Christopher Milburn. The film was released theatrically nationwide January 9, 2009. The DVD which includes the 10 making-of webisodes from the Massify Ghosts in the Machine Competition was released on March 31, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Heigl</span> American actress (born 1978)

Katherine Heigl is an American actress. She played Dr. Izzie Stevens on the ABC television medical drama Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, a role that brought her recognition and accolades, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2007.

<i>New Years Eve</i> (2011 film) 2011 film directed by Garry Marshall

New Year's Eve is a 2011 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall, written by Katherine Fugate, and starring an ensemble cast consisting of Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Héctor Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Joey McIntyre, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Paulson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Til Schweiger, Jake T. Austin, Hilary Swank, and Sofía Vergara.

<i>I Dont Know How She Does It</i> 2011 film directed by Douglas McGrath

I Don't Know How She Does It is a 2011 American comedy film based on Allison Pearson's 2002 novel of the same name. Directed by Douglas McGrath, the film stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear.

<i>Safe Haven</i> (film) 2013 film by Lasse Hallström

Safe Haven is a 2013 American romantic fantasy drama thriller film starring Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel and Cobie Smulders. The film marks the final film role for actor Red West. It was released theatrically in North America on February 14, 2013. The film was directed by Lasse Hallström, and is an adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' 2010 novel of the same name. The film was originally set for a February 8 release.

I Like You So Much Better When Youre Naked (<i>Greys Anatomy</i>) 12th episode of the 6th season of Greys Anatomy

"I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked" is the twelfth episode of the sixth season of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, and the show's 114th episode overall. Written by Tony Phelan and Joan Rater, and directed by Donna Deitch, the episode aired on the American Broadcasting Company in the United States on January 21, 2010.

<i>The Age of Adaline</i> 2015 American film by Lee Toland Krieger

The Age of Adaline is a 2015 American romantic fantasy film directed by Lee Toland Krieger and written by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador Paskowitz. The film stars Blake Lively as Adaline, with Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, and Ellen Burstyn. Narrated by Hugh Ross, the story follows Adaline Bowman, a young woman who stops aging following an accident at the age of twenty-nine.

<i>Unforgettable</i> (2017 film) 2017 film directed by Denise Di Novi

Unforgettable is a 2017 American drama thriller film directed by Denise Di Novi and written by Christina Hodson. The film stars Rosario Dawson, Katherine Heigl, Geoff Stults, Isabella Rice, and Cheryl Ladd, and follows a divorcée who begins to torment her ex-husband's new fiancée.

References

  1. ↑ "Life as We Know It (2010) - Financial Information". the-numbers.com.
  2. 1 2 "Life as We Know It (2010)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  3. ↑ "The Colonial-Style House from "Life As We Know It"". Hookedonhouses.net. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Richard Eldredge, "'Life,' 'Due Date' Hollywood shoots have city seeing stars", Access Atlanta (blog of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Archived 2009-10-03 at the Wayback Machine ), September 30, 2009]
  5. ↑ "Film > Life As We Know It – Home And Hearth - Katherine Heigl Official Website". Kheigl.com. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Life as We Know It". Rotten Tomatoes.
  7. ↑ "Life as We Know It Reviews". Metacritic.
  8. ↑ "Home - Cinemascore". cinemascore.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.