I posted a rant on my tumblr back when the screener came out, but it's kind of over the top and scattered. I'm going to try to organize my thoughts in a more neutral manner.
Jason and Julie were so determined to raise Joe as separate entities that they didn't communicate. They didn't attempt to discuss their problems; they let them slide. They introduced their kid to their significant others without talking to each other. They kept *jokingly* insulting each other (later on in the film) even though it was clear that the other person was hurt. Tensions were running high and they opted to do nothing.
I had a hard time having sympathy for them because they didn't make a true effort to connect as parents. Julie came to realize she loved Jason over time, but he came to love her when she wasn't around. Jason's turn around struck me as convenient and not rooted in an understanding of how badly they messed up.
With regard to the gender dynamics, it seemed that the women were shrill and unstable while the men were hypersexualized. Women get to publicly embarrass themselves by being honest while men get to make mistakes behind closed doors. I thought the gender dynamics lacked nuance; everything was stereotypical.
I have a feeling that I took this movie *way* seriously. I'm in my mid-twenties and don't have kids, but would like to have one or two someday (provided I meet the right person). Maybe that colored my reaction?
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Jason and Julie were so determined to raise Joe as separate entities that they didn't communicate. They didn't attempt to discuss their problems; they let them slide. They introduced their kid to their significant others without talking to each other. They kept *jokingly* insulting each other (later on in the film) even though it was clear that the other person was hurt. Tensions were running high and they opted to do nothing.
I had a hard time having sympathy for them because they didn't make a true effort to connect as parents. Julie came to realize she loved Jason over time, but he came to love her when she wasn't around. Jason's turn around struck me as convenient and not rooted in an understanding of how badly they messed up.
With regard to the gender dynamics, it seemed that the women were shrill and unstable while the men were hypersexualized. Women get to publicly embarrass themselves by being honest while men get to make mistakes behind closed doors. I thought the gender dynamics lacked nuance; everything was stereotypical.
I have a feeling that I took this movie *way* seriously. I'm in my mid-twenties and don't have kids, but would like to have one or two someday (provided I meet the right person). Maybe that colored my reaction?