She's Having a Baby is a 1988 American romantic comedy film directed and written by John Hughes.
She's Having a Baby | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | John Hughes |
Produced by | John Hughes Bill Brown Ronald Colby |
Written by | John Hughes |
Starring |
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Music by | Stewart Copeland |
Cinematography | Donald Peterman |
Edited by | Alan Heim |
Production company | Hughes Entertainment |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 106 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $20 million |
Box office | $16 million (domestic) |
The film portrays a young newlywed couple, Kristy and Jake Briggs played by Elizabeth McGovern and Kevin Bacon, who try to cope with married life and their parents' expectations.
Screenplay
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. Jake asks his best friend, Davis McDonald (Alec Baldwin) before the wedding if he thinks he 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 towards 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.
Jake's best friend suddenly visits after not seeing him for two years. Davis tells them that his father has died, and Jake and Kristy are supportive, allowing him to stay the night. Things take a turn for the worse when Davis makes a pass at Kristy, by trying to get her bathrobe open and proclaiming his feelings, but Kristy turns him down, telling him that she is in love with Jake. Meanwhile, Jake begins fantasizing about having an affair with a mysterious young French model.
Jake and Kristy continue to adjust to their new lives until Kristy decides to stop taking contraceptives without telling Jake, until after several months, she informs him that he has been unable to impregnate her. Jake feels pressure from society and from his wife to have a child. The couple begins a fertility program, which eventually succeed. They tell their parents, and while all are overjoyed, Kristy's mother casually informs them that she had a difficult birth with Kristy and nearly died. During a traumatic labor, Jake realizes that his lack of satisfaction was due to his 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.
- Kevin Bacon as Jefferson "Jake" Edward Briggs
- Elizabeth McGovern as Kristen "Kristy" 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
- Michael Keaton as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Woody Harrelson as Himself (Cameo: End credits)
- Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller (Cameo: End credits)
The film was shot in Winnetka, IL and Evanston, IL from September 1986 to December 1986. 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.
She's Having a Baby | |
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Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
Released | 1988 |
Genre | Rock, new wave |
Length | 37:10 |
Label | I.R.S. / MCA |
Professional ratings | |
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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.
Track listing
The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics and has 38% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes based on 39 reviews. 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.
In An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder director Kevin Smith cites She's Having a Baby as his favorite John Hughes movie. He also cites it as a template for Jersey Girl, joking that both movies were financially unsuccessful.