She's Having a Baby (1988)

Director:

John Hughes

Writer:

John Hughes (written by)

Release Date:

5 February 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A comedy about the labours of love

Plot:

Jake and Kristy Briggs are newlyweds. Being young, they are perhaps a bit unprepared for the full reality...

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Marriage | Male Female Relationship | Father's Perspective | Cynicism

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	Jefferson 'Jake' Edward Briggs
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Kristen 'Kristy' Briggs
Alec Baldwin	...	Davis McDonald
William Windom	...	Russ Bainbridge
Holland Taylor	...	Sarah Briggs
Cathryn Damon	...	Gayle Bainbridge
John Ashton	...	Ken
James Ray	...	Jim Briggs
Dennis Dugan	...	Bill
Larry Hankin	...	Hank
Nancy Lenehan	...	Cynthia
Isabel García Lorca	...	Fantasy Girl
Reba McKinney	...	Grandmother
Bill Erwin	...	Grandfather
Anthony Mockus Sr.	...	Minister

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

56 Salem Lane, Skokie, Illinois, USA

Company:

Hughes Entertainment

Trivia:

The BMW's license plate is "SHAB" which is an acronym of the title.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Jake kisses his wife goodbye, comes down the sidewalk, stumbles, and falls, a blue pad to protect his knees is clearly visible on the sidewalk.

Quotes:

Jefferson "Jake" Edward Briggs: Wh... why do you... why do you think I'm nervous?
Fantasy Girl: Because you don't know what you want.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

HAPPY FAMILIES

A Classic of the Era

I actually saw this film in the theaters (one of a handful of people in the world, I believe). Most people weren't prepared for John Hughes to break into more grown-up fare after his successful films about teens (Ferris Bueller, Pretty in Pink, etc.), and this film's failure (along with the failure of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles) forced Hughes into making commercially successful but artistically bankrupt crap like Home Alone.

Although I was in college when the film came out, I instantly fell in love with the story of this fictionalized version of Hughes own early married life. Kevin Bacon did some of his best work in this film, and Elizabeth McGovern is simply radiant as the "she" of the title. Alec Balwdin is thin and disgusting as the "best friend" who has an unrequited lust for his pal's wife.

Filled with surreal moments (which are par for the course today, in shows like Scrubs) where Bacon's character imagines his response (or the response of others) to various situations, several stand out. The wonderful suburban lawnmower scene, the moment when he imagines his in-laws giving sex advice ("Get your butt a little higher, Jake!"), etc.

As a young father, I have felt everything Jake felt as they ventured into parenthood. Fear, wonder, and a weird sense of losing your wife's body to something you don't quite understand. And as funny as the film is, it is also quite poignant at moments and full of heart.

The use of classic late 80's bands (a Hughes specialty) is excellent and quite extensive. Gene Loves Jezebel, Love and Rockets, XTX, Bryan Ferry, Everything But the Girl, and Kate Bush (whose song is used most effectively to tug at heart strings) are all used to highlight, comment on, and bring the story to life.

Highly recommended and easily Hughes' most heartfelt film.