Doula movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Doula

This comedy-drama is available on digital and On-Demand on June 28, 2022

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 45 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: D+

IN A NUTSHELL:

After dating for a matter of months, thirty-somethings Deb (Troian Bellisario) and Silvio (Arron Shiver) are expecting their first child. When their elderly midwife, Penka, passes away suddenly, Silvio makes the hasty decision to hire Penka’s son, Sascha (Will Greenberg), as their live-in doula. Deb is cranky and frustrated, as Silvio didn’t consult her before hiring, but before long, Sascha’s unconventional style wins her over. As Deb and Sascha grow closer, and the pregnancy nears its inevitable conclusion, Silvio starts to feel like the odd man out. His continued efforts to exert control over the pregnancy lead to a blow-up fight in which he forces Deb to choose between him and Sascha.

Arron Shiver wrote the screenplay but also stars in it as the doula.

THINGS I LIKED:

I adore Chris Pine, so as soon as I found out that he produced this movie, I wanted to see it. DOULA marks the first feature film produced by Chris Pine and his new production company called Barry Linen Motion Pictures, produced in association with Vacation Theory and Universal Pictures Content Group. Producer Chris Pine adds, “Making Doula was a dream come true. It’s written by one of our best friends, directed by one of our best friends, starring a bunch of our best friends. The film was a ton of fun to make and we hope audiences see that when they’re watching it.” In real life, Chris Pine has appropriately hairy and manly arms, but in this movie, they’re SUPER hairy. Two of the characters in the movie mention it. ha ha
Troian Bellisario plays Deb. She’s the real-life daughter of Deborah Pratt, who plays Deb’s mother. Deb’s character is super obnoxious and has a terrible potty mouth.
The film shows the emotional ups and downs of pregnancy, as well as the toll it can take on relationships.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Most of the movie was a slog to get through, mostly because I didn’t enjoy spending time with any of these people. None of the characters are very appealing. Some are downright annoying.
So many scenes could have been edited completely out.
Why don’t people lock their bedroom doors? Seriously.
The movie makes doctors look like quacks.
It’s supposed to be a quirky comedy, but nothing made me laugh.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be completely bored. So will some adults.
The very first word we hear is an F-bomb. After that, there are plenty more, as well as other kinds of profanity and crude language.
Talk of prostitution
You see an unmarried couple go at it in bed with skin and sound effects.
A woman masturbates.
People smoke weed, including a pregnant woman.
People get drunk, including a pregnant woman.
A woman flips the bird.