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Story

Holly (Katherine Heigl) and Messer (Josh Duhamel) are set up on a date by their respective best friends, Alison (Christina Hendricks) and Peter (Hayes MacArthur), who are engaged at the time. The date is a disaster. Messer thinks Holly is an uptight control freak, and Holly thinks Messer is rude, unpleasant and interested only in sex. After this first date, they meet up at functions such as Alison and Peter’s wedding and the birth of their child, Sophie, where Holly and Messer are nominated as godparents. Each time they meet, they’re nasty and critical of each other.

Life changes dramatically when Peter and Alison die in a car accident. Holly and Messer are baby Sophie’s guardians and must take over her care. To do this, they have to live in Alison and Peter’s house together. Both have careers that are important to them and other relationships, but they have to work around all of this for Sophie’s sake.

Themes

Death of parents; being an orphan; sexual relationships.

Violence

There are several scenes where Holly and Messer argue. There is also a scene where Messer accidentally drops Sophie, and a time when he pushes her to the floor when she is standing.

Sexual references

This movie contains some sexual references. For example:

  • Peter and Messer describe a young babysitter as ‘hot’.
  • Messer is constantly talking about the fact that Holly ‘can’t get laid’. Holly, on the other hand, is always lecturing Messer about the fact that all he thinks about is ‘getting laid’.
  • Messer says that being out on his own with Sophie makes him attractive to women.
  • Neighbours discuss Holly and Messer’s relationship and whether they are having sex.
  • A homosexual couple talk about having no time for sex now that they have a baby.
  • A caseworker says, ‘Oh great – you had sex’. She’s obviously not happy about this.
  • A character refers to a ‘tranny hooker’.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

This movie contains some use of substances. For example:

  • There are several scenes where characters drink alcohol, including one where Holly is quite drunk.
  • Characters talk about smoking marijuana.
  • Holly and Messer cook and eat marijuana brownies and then act in a silly way.

Nudity and sexual activity

This movie contains some nudity and sexual activity. For example:

  • Messer and various girlfriends are in bed together at various times, apparently nude but covered by sheets.
  • Holly and Messer kiss passionately. She pushes him against the wall and removes his shirt, then they move to the bedroom.
  • Messer and Holly are seen in bed together, covered by sheets from the shoulders down.

Product placement

None of concern

Coarse language

This movie contains some coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Life As We Know It is a romantic comedy about how two people who are drawn together for the sake of a child finally realise how important they are to each other.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include the importance of trust and working as a team. The movie also emphasises how people who care about you can be family even if they are not blood relatives.

You could also talk about what it actually takes to raise a child and the plans that you’ve made for your own children.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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