inkblot11 Review of Junior

Junior (1994)

Totally implausible concept but it doesn't matter; Junior is fun and sweet

[7/10 · 13 September 2017]

Dr Alex (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a button-downed scientist without a life away from the lab. He has joined forces with a leading LA gynecologist, Dr. Larry (Danny Devito) to develop a new and useful fertility drug. Its very promising. However, a heavy from the FDA (Frank Langella) refuses to give approval for experimentation on humans. What a disappointment! This leaves Larry with a lucrative practice but Alex is going to have to vacate his lab. That is, until Dr Diana (Emma Thompson) literally comes rolling into the same lab on top of a freezer holding her donor eggs. Falling on top of Alex, it is agreed they will share the nice space. Then, Larry gets an even zanier idea. Why not fertilize one of Diana's donor eggs with Alex's sperm and implant the embryo in Dr. Alex, all the while using their new pregnancy-enhancing drug? What, a pregnant male? Never mind that he doesn't have a womb, the baby will just grow in his abdomen for a little while. But, once Alex is pregnant, he starts having morning sickness, emotional swings, and a growing belly. Larry wants to end the pregnancy, as their drug has proved effective. But, hold on. Alex wants his baby! Also pregnant is Larry's ex wife (Pamela Reed), who demands Larry be her doctor. Then, too, Diana and Alex, both devoted scientists, end up falling in love with each other, while Alex tries to hide his ballooning frame. The FDA man comes snooping into the whole affair. Will Alex deliver a baby from the first ever male pregnancy? This sweet darling film is just the kind Hollywood doesn't deliver any more. Its a romcom with a twist as Alex becomes the first male to REALLY LEARN how pregnancy is a wonderful and difficult time. Schwarzenegger has never been more attractive and funny while Thompson, Devito, Langella, Reed, and all of the others do great work, too. The sets, costumes (you should see Arnold dressed up as a giantess to conceal his identity), script and direction combine for one comedic film. Listen, romantic comedy lovers. You may have to seek out films from long ago to satisfy your hunger for funny love tales. Hollywood has thrown the romcom into the X file.