‘Bridesmaids’ + ‘Friends with Benefits’ = ‘Friends with Kids’

By Matthew Dougherty

Off the heels of last year’s smash hit Bridesmaids, comes this romantic comedy which happens to contain many of the cast members of that film.  Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jon Hamm and Chris O’Dowd all return from that already classic comedy for this movie about six friends, four of whom are married to another member of the group.  The two left over decide to have kids without relationship problems getting in the way.  But is that ever really possible?  This movie can be seen as Friends with Benefits for people in their 30’s, and it could be the birth of yet another great movie romance.

Should You See It? Yes.  Even though the plot is typical, the cast is fantastic and the trailer provides some funny moments.  With the R rating, many of the film’s funniest moments likely could not make it into the trailer.  Also, how can you resist seeing Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm on screen together again?

Who To Take: This could be a great date movie or a simple outing with your friends.  That said, the R rating means that a lot of the humor may be vulgar, so maybe don’t ask your mom to this one.

How do you tell if a friend can be made into more?

In Friends with Kids, the two main characters trying to conceive a child seemingly have no romantic connection.  Naturally, one seems to develop anyway, leading them to consider something more than friendship.  This is something that does not just happen in the movies.  Sometimes the right person for you is hiding behind a cloud of friendship.  Here is how to tell when try out a romance:

1. You have a lot in common: Do you like the same movies, restaurants, or activities?  If so, on some level you know how much fun you will have dating this person.

2. You have the same friends: If you have all of the same friends, you know that you like the same type of people, including each other.  However, you also need to be able to be comfortable hanging out with each other one-on-one.

3. They already treat you like their significant other: Look at how your “friend” treats you.  Is he nicer to you than anyone else?  Are you the same way to him?  Are there things that only you two know about each other?  Are you comfortable with each others’ families?  These are all possible signs that your friend might be relationship material, and perhaps even the best relationship you’ve ever had.

Do you have experience with a friend becoming more than a friend?  Share with us below.