She's Having a Baby is a 1988 American romantic comedy film directed and written by John Hughes.
The film portrays a young newlywed couple, Jake Briggs and Kristy Briggs, played by Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, who try to cope with married life and their parents' expectations.
Plot[]
This film looks at the lives of Jefferson "Jake" (Kevin Bacon) and Kristy Briggs (Elizabeth McGovern), from their wedding day until the birth of their first child, mostly through Jake's eyes, with his voiceover commentaries and several imaginary scenes. Before their wedding day, Jake asks his best friend, Davis McDonald (Alec Baldwin) if he thinks Jake will be happy, to which his friend says, "Yeah, you'll be happy. You just won't know it."
After their wedding, Jake and Kristy head off for New Mexico, where Jake works toward gaining a Master's Degree, but leaves before finishing. They return to Chicago where Jake is hired as an advertising copywriter. Jake says he wants to be a writer, which amuses his boss. Kristy is hired as a research analyst, and they are able to buy a house in the suburbs. Meanwhile, Jake begins fantasizing about having an affair with a mysterious young French model.
Jake and Kristy continue to adjust to their new lives. Jake feels pressure from family, society and his wife to have a child. Kristy's mother casually informs them that she had a difficult birth with Kristy and nearly died. Later, Kristy informs Jake that she stopped taking contraceptives without telling him. After several months, they discover that the reason she hasn't gotten pregnant is because he has been unable to impregnate her.
After not seeing Jake and Kristy for three years, Davis visits unexpectedly, telling them that his father has died. Jake and Kristy are supportive, allowing him to stay the night. Things take a turn when Davis makes a pass at Kristy by proclaiming his feelings and trying to open her bathrobe, but Kristy turns him down, telling him that she is in love with Jake.
The couple begins a fertility program, which eventually succeeds. During a traumatic labor where Jake must leave the delivery room and worries about losing Kristy, Jake realizes that his lack of satisfaction in life was due to his own selfishness and immaturity.
The last scene of the film reveals that Jake's voiceover was the new father reading his novel entitled She's Having a Baby to his wife and son.
Cast[]
- Kevin Bacon as Jefferson "Jake" Edward Briggs
- Elizabeth McGovern as Kristen "Kristy" Bainbridge Briggs
- Alec Baldwin as Davis McDonald
- William Windom as Russ Bainbridge
- Holland Taylor as Sarah Briggs
- Cathryn Damon as Gayle Bainbridge (Damon's final role, released posthumously)
- John Ashton as Ken
- James Ray as Jim Briggs
- Bill Erwin as Grandfather Briggs
- Paul Gleason as Howard
- Dennis Dugan as Bill
- Larry Hankin as Hank
- Edie McClurg as Lynn
- Nancy Lenehan as Cynthia
- Kirstie Alley as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Harry Anderson as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Dan Aykroyd as Roman Craig (Cameo: End credits)
- Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller (Cameo: End credits)
- John Candy as Chet Ripley (Cameo: End credits)
- Dyan Cannon as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Stewart Copeland as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Ted Danson as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Judi Evans as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Bob Fraser as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Woody Harrelson as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Robert Hays as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Amy Irving as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Magic Johnson as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Michael Jordan as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Michael Keaton as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Joanna Kerns as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Elias Koteas as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Penny Marshall as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Bill Murray as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Olivia Newton-John as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Roy Orbison as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Cindy Pickett as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Bronson Pinchot as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Annie Potts as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- John Ratzenberger as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Ally Sheedy as Herself (Cameo: End credits)
- Lyman Ward as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Will Wheaton as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Chris Young as Buck Ripley (Cameo: End credits)
- Warren Zevon as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
Production[]
The film was shot in Winnetka, Illinois and Evanston, Illinois from September 1986 to December 1986.[3] However, several scenes were shot directly in the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Most of John Hughes's films either take place in Chicago, in the suburbs of Chicago, or are about people going to or coming from Chicago.
Soundtrack[]
| She's Having a Baby | |
|---|---|
| Various Artists | |
| Length | 37:10 |
| Label | I.R.S. / MCA |
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | 
|
The She's Having a Baby soundtrack album was released in 1988 on I.R.S. Records label and produced by Dave Wakeling.
The song during the birth sequence is "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush and is featured on her 1989 album The Sensual World. John Hughes is thanked in the album's liner notes.
The song playing during the trailer is "Music for a Found Harmonium" by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. The song played during the street party is "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" by Marvin Gaye.
Music video[]
In the video for Dave Wakeling's title tune, he performs alongside a female backup singer; behind them, a huge screen displays various clips from the movie. All of this is alternated with footage of Wakeling as he shops at a music store for guitars.
- Track listing
- "She's Having a Baby" – Dave Wakeling
- "Haunted When the Minutes Drag" – Love and Rockets
- "Desire (Come and Get It)" – Gene Loves Jezebel
- "Happy Families" – XTC
- "Crazy Love" – Bryan Ferry
- "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" – Kirsty MacColl
- "Apron Strings" – Everything but the Girl
- "This Woman's Work" – Kate Bush
- "It's All in the Game" – Carmel
- "Full of Love" – Dr. Calculus
Reception[]
The film received mixed reviews from critics and has 41% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes based on 41 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern struggle to sustain a spark in She's Having a Baby, a blase adult romance that lacks the specificity and style of writer-director John Hughes' more successful forays into teenage angst."[5] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave She's Having a Baby a mixed 2 stars out of 4. He wrote that the film "begins with the simplest and most moving of stories and interrupts it with an amazing assortment of gimmicks," being salvaged only by strong performances from Bacon and McGovern.[6]
In An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder director Kevin Smith cites She's Having a Baby as his favorite John Hughes film. He also cites it as a template for Jersey Girl, joking that both films were financially unsuccessful.
References[]
- ↑ http://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59112
- ↑
She's Having a Baby at Box Office Mojo
- ↑ She's Having a Baby Filming Locations. 80s Movies.
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Review: She's Having a Baby – Original Soundtrack. Allmusic.
- ↑ {{{title}}} at Rotten Tomatoes
- ↑ She's Having a Baby Movie Review (1988) (February 5, 1988).
External links[]
Template:John Hughes