ADVANCE REVIEW: Humor & Galore Is A Buzz In HBO MAX’s Unpregnant
HBO MAX delivers their first original coming of age comedy with the release of Unpregnant September 10 and viewers are in for a treat. The story kicks off with Ivy League bound popular girl, Veronica (Haley Lu Richardson), sitting on the toilet in her high school bathroom awaiting the results of a pregnancy test. After the results indicate a positive pregnancy, Veronica, in a fit of hysteria, tosses the test out of the stall. It inevitably lands directly in-front of former friend, and not-so popular girl, Bailey (Barbie Ferreira). Unlike most comedies, where the former friend would hold the test over the other’s head, Bailey tosses the test into the dumpster after promising to not tell a soul. It would be a very short film if that went exactly as planned and the school’s recycling club obviously finds the test.
Word soon spreads across social media and now against the clock, meticulous Veronica starts to plan how she will get an abortion without her Catholic parents’ permission. Adding another stressor to Veronica’s situation, she lives in Missouri, where some of the strictest abortion laws exist. She learns if she goes to Albuquerque, she can have the procedure. Veronica quickly realizes her so-called friends would rather investigate who the mystery pregnancy belongs to and her boyfriend is essentially useless to she turns to the last person on earth she ever thought would help her, Bailey. From there the road trip begins and the girls head out on an adventure to remember, filled with fun characters, especially Giancarlo Esposito’s limo driver Bob, and charm galore.
Director Rachel Lee Goldenberg’s ability to intertwine tough topics, such as abortion and divorce, with humor is not something every director nails but Goldenberg hits the nail on the head. The two former friends certainly find themselves in some fairly ridiculous situations, viewers never forget that Veronica is on her way to a potentially life-changing event. It’s also clear she’s not the only one with challenges, Bailey has her own handful of secrets that weigh heavily on both girls.
A perfect example of this, and in my opinion one of the most beautiful scene in the movie, comes towards the middle where both girls air their secrets to the world. As a viewer, you cannot help but cheer them on as they shout at the top of their lungs the things that have impacted them throughout their lives.
The two leads, Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira are the standouts of the film. It is hard to believe they have not known one another for years because their chemistry is outstanding. The quick banter and ease at which they play off one another is not something that can be easily replicated and yet these two are pros at it. Richardson is completely charming, even in situations where her character is meant to drive the viewer crazy, while Ferreira brings the perfect amount of quirk and sarcasm to Bailey.
Unpregnant is a story about friendship and the difficulties friends face as they grow older and life continues to throw curve after curve. It’s charming and, at the end of the day, a feel-good film that will leave viewers with a smile. And while many will compare this creation to Eliza Hittman’s Sundance hit, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, which followed the same road trip abortion theme, Unpregnant, is able to add a touch of humor to a situation not usually seen as funny in films. Viewers of all ages, especially the young adult demographic, will enjoy this offering.
Grade: B+