Jenny Slate absolutely kills it in Obvious Child, a hilarious and moving film about a mid to late 20s female stand-up comedian living in Brooklyn. While coping with the misery of losing her job and being dumped, Donna (Slate) has a one-night stand. Being late with her period and having been too drunk to remember whether they used protection, she takes a pregnancy test: it’s positive. She decides to get an abortion, which cannot take place for two weeks.
With wit and care, writer-director Gillian Robespierre examines Donna’s resulting struggles for the ensuing two weeks, such as dealing with the embarrassment of this mistake, deciding whether or not to tell the guy she slept with, (who by the way is an absolute sweetheart) and deciding whether or not to tell her mother that she’s getting an abortion. Robespierre and Slate do an outstanding job being uproariously funny when Donna is on-stage doing comedy or simply living awkward moments of life, while also balancing the serious sadness of being broken up with, the fear of finding out you’re pregnant or the anxiety of telling your parents. It’s extraordinary how well the film can be all of these things in full force.
The situation is simple. On this film’s release day, June 6th, you should go to the theater and watch it, preferably with friends who can take an abortion joke. Do yourself this favor.
Grade: A-/A
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