The 2014 comedy Obvious Child is one of the most realistically funny films I’ve seen in the last few years. On repeated viewings, it’s gotten better and funnier and I keep noticing how on point so much of the social commentary feels, especially within the context of our increasingly nutter-filled landscape that we all inhabit. Jenny Slate was absolutely outstanding and completely deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, but sadly, that didn’t happen, as the Academy has an aversion to comedies, let alone ballsy ones like this. Long live the amazing people at A24 – without their taste and resources, the recent movie-going experience wouldn’t be anywhere near as impressive as it’s been. This is a wonderfully honest and often times darkly hilarious comedy that despite featuring one small plot contrivance seems perfectly calibrated over the possibly too brief running time (at 85 minutes, I could’ve spent more time with these characters in a few more scenes). But when artistic collaborators seem this tapped into their material, it’s tough to fault them for what they didn’t do. Slate stars as a down on her luck stand-up comic who’s miserable after being dumped by her boyfriend and losing her part time job and only real source of income. Then, things get extra complicated when she learns that she’s pregnant after a one-night stand with a too-nice-to-be-real potential beau, played by Gabe Liedman, who killed it on the later seasons of The Office (damn I miss that show!) Is she ready for a child when she doesn’t even have control over her own life? How can she break the news to a guy she’s just met? Obvious Child is the product of multiple female voices (co-writer/director Gillian Robespierre, co-writers Karen Maine and Elisabeth Holm, and exec-producer/star Slate) and combines a clear, linear narrative with uproarious improvised stand-up bits which Slate and Liedman absolutely nail with aplomb. A special mention must be paid to the film’s almost unique obsession with fart and poop humor; so simple yet so effective and so refreshing to see it used in a smart fashion rather than as random, scatological humor. And most importantly, I love how Obvious Child isn’t a “will she have an abortion or not?” ticking-clock type movie; the right to choose should always be left to the individuals responsible, with zero interference from any outside institution, which is the message that the creative team clearly and wholeheartedly endorses. Most importantly — this movie is just damn funny, with the humor coming from an honest, heartfelt place.
Podcasting Them Softly 