I Don't Know How She Does It (2011)

I have been such a huge fan of Sarah Jessica Parker since before it was fashionable (yes, I'm old enough to have watched Square Pegs in its original airing), but I wonder why she can't seem to pick a movie script lately that has half of the wit and intelligence of HBO's "Sex and the City." Even the "Sex and the City" movies (especially the second one) lacked the energy and humor of the TV series. "I Don't Know How She Does It" is just the latest unfortunate misfire. The well worn premise is so dated and tired, I don't even know where to begin. If you think that women working in the professional arena is a new or novel phenomenon, this movie might be for you with its antiquated ideas and expected punchlines. It has all the modernity of a Doris Day film with its insulting and old-fashioned notions. From the get-go, the movie lets us know that Parker is both a terrific mother and a fantastic career woman. Problem is--the screenplay really never makes the case that either of these points is true. Oh how can a woman possibly juggle a career and family? Apparently a lot of lying is the key--whether to the bake sale committee or to your boss, it's all the same and absolutely adorable!

Parker has a seemingly idyllic life with her husband (an underutilized Greg Kinnear) and two kids. She manages to be wildly successful at work even though she embodies every negative cliche about working mothers that you can possibly imagine. She shows up late, always has food stains on her clothes, is in perpetual disarray, and generally just bumbles about. That's okay, she's a mother (with a full time child care worker no less) so it's expected that she would be a harried mess. When she accidentally sends sexually suggestive emails to an important client, it's endearing (when in reality, who would do business with a "professional" who can't even manage their personal emails?) Never mind that Parker is completely unconvincing, the film has plenty of others to insult. All of the men at work are dismissive and/or conniving. Again, what decade is this? Women have been a part of the workforce for quite some time now! But the most loathsome portrait of all is saved for stay-at-home moms. They are vindictive and judgmental harridans who occupy their days with selfish pursuits instead of working.

Parker relies, as always, on her nervous energy and clumsiness to mine for physical comedy. She's such a hugely talented actress, though, I'd like to see her dig a little deeper for a change. There's no reason why she isn't among the best in her field. Kinnear brings an easy charm to his largely unexplored second fiddle role. And Pierce Brosnan (as the previously mentioned client who works with Parker on a huge project) has a refreshing deadpan that enlivens the scenes that he's in. Even he gets smitten by the lice-ridden Parker. Why not? There are moments in "I Don't Know How She Does It" that are amusing, but the film strains for sentimentality as well. If you think that Miss Parker can't have it all, well then you underestimate her pluck. There are a lot of humorous movies that detail the challenges of working women and mothers everywhere (whether in central themes or peripheral plotlines). "I Don't Know How She Does It" misses the mark with its sexist and dated viewpoints--and worse, its stale jokes. I liked Kinnear and Brosnan, but the screenplay could use a real dose of tartness and reality. KGHarris, 12/11.

This a movie about a woman who overextends herself with her job and family life. She's got two little kids around ages 2 and 6. Her job isn't just any job, but a high powered money making position. I know women like this who somehow manage to balance it all running from place to place. I wonder how they get any sleep at night. They're certainly too busy to see this movie that seems to be about them. I don't have a fault with the plot or the actors. It was a watchable movie. The problem is that it was made as if it were a two hour long draining sitcom. Sarah Jessica Parker holds her own as the lead, but she seems to be playing a very famous character she's played before in the "Sex and the City" franchise. Only difference is, this is Carrie with kids, a high powered job, but the same Carrie voice over that wraps around the scenes through the film. The other issue is that I think this is a topic that's been covered a long time ago and better in films like "Baby Boom". I assumed that this topic has been do dated that you can't really spin the idea of women having a career and children. As far as I'm aware, most women now who are in it for their careers aren't interested in having children. At least the ones around me anyway. Wise choice. Unless you want two careers and no sympathy.

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The movie irritated me with the over abundance of first person narration and asides. It appears this was written as a play and no knew how to adapt it to the screen. Character is not built for you, but is read to you. It is easy to figure out "how she does it:"

1) Super mom has better organizing skills than most people.

2) SJP has no trouble lying.

3) She takes short cuts.

4) SJP totes half of the world's possessions in her bag.

5) She has both an educated nanny and husband who support her.

That is how she does it.

Everyone in the movie will look into the camera and say "I don't know how she does it." SJP's character's name is "Kate REDDY." Get it? Her arch rival among the other mommies is Wendy BEST. These authors could write porno with imaginative names like that. We could name the husband "Richard Reddy" wink wink nudge nudge. Oh, they did!

Sarah is struggling to keep up with everything when her job requires her to travel from a Hollywood version of Boston (one where no one has an accent) to NYC even though they have wide screen teleconferencing. Her idea is to develop a retirement account for seniors built upon foreign high dividend paying stocks. (My advice would be to use closed end funds. Some have the high dividend, pay monthly, and have less risk than emerging world stocks such as GOF or GLAD.)

I wasn't able to laugh at this comedy. I found out that if a woman signs her e-mail "XO" that means "I want you to enter me" or for a guy, just the reverse. There are also the typical family disappoints due to work.

This is a "chick flick" for a married woman...the one that doesn't cheat on her husband with James Bond when she has the opportunity. Perhaps high octane working moms might enjoy this film as they are shown as incredible super heroes who strive for the heart warming ending. The asides of Christina Hendricks toward the end of the film deal with the stereotypes of women in the workplace in an attempt to give the movie meaning. I was only mildly entertained.

No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Mild swearing. "S" word but not as much as a certain South Park episode.

XO

Mike

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I could only appreciate this mindless entertainment for a brief window of my life, and that window has been boarded up. Please stop making more than one movie every other year like this, thank you.

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"I Don't Know How She Does It" follows the life of Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker) working for a financial management in Boston. She is mother of two children, and wife to architect Richard (Greg Kinnear), currently unemployed. Always hard working, Kate juggles multiple tasks at home and at office. Balancing family and career can be difficult, especially when Jack (Pierce Brosnan), a New York business associate, offers you a great chance to further her career.

Based on a book written by Allison Pearson, the film's screenplay is by Aline Brosh McKenna, known for "27 Dresses," "Morning Glory" and of course, "The Devil Wears Prada." So far "I Don't Know How She Does It" is the most disappointing work penned by her.

To me the film's problem is simple. It doesn't have its own voice. The story looks like a rehash of other better romantic comedies. The characters, likeable as they are, do not have any distinct personality. This is not to say "I Don't Know How She Does It" is a total waste of celluloid. It is pretty amusing watching the interactions between Kate and Momo (Olivia Munn), Kate's competent assistant (who, unlike Kate, doesn't like kids).

No, it is just that everything is weak and tepid in "I Don't Know How She Does It." The weakness is perhaps because of the performances from the leads, or the mocumentary style that director Douglas McGrath ("Nicholas Nickleby" starring Charlie Hunnam, "Infamous") overuses. Or maybe simply because of the lack of real challenges these characters must face. Whatever the reason is, the film just fails to leave a lasting impact on viewers, as a comedy or a drama.

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