Warning: Spoilers ahead for Kinda Pregnant
Amy Schumer’sKinda Pregnantis an unusual pregnancy movie for lots of reasons, the most obvious of which is that its protagonist isn’t actually pregnant. What’s more, unlike other films on the themes of pregnancy and motherhood, including Judd Apatow’s 2007 comedy smashKnocked Up,Kinda Pregnantaddresses a controversial issue head-on. The movie presents abortion as an option for women with unwanted pregnancies in multiple scenes, whereas other Hollywood releases generally avoid the issue, or portray abortion in a wholly negative light.
The scenes in which Schumer’s character Lainy and others in the film discuss abortion reflectKinda Pregnant’s overall message about pregnancy, which tries to balance the positive aspects of having a baby with more negative perspectives. In this way, the movie breaks new ground among Hollywood comedies, in particular, by presenting an alternative view of what it means to be pregnant from the narratives more typically depicted.
Amy Schumer’s Character In Kinda Pregnant Addresses Abortion As An Option
She Isn’t Pregnant, But Would Consider Abortion If She Were
In one ofKinda Pregnant’s first scenes, Lainy hears that her best friend Kate is pregnant. “No! Get rid of it!” she yells. While this reaction is designed to portray Lainy’s insecurities about motherhood in a comical way, it also cleverly subverts the typical reaction expected of people when they hear that their friend is pregnant. By raising the option of terminating the pregnancy, even as a joke,the movie shows that there is more than one view of having a baby. Even Kate herself doesn’t respond to Lainy in a positive way about her own pregnancy, simply telling her, “It’s so weird."
Later, as the film reaches its climax during the scene of Kate’s baby shower, the topic of abortion returns to the table.Kinda Pregnant’s overweening villain, Shirley,takes it upon herself to tell the entire party, “Lainy is pregnant and thinking of terminating.” Although she says it’s “so fine” to have an abortion, and that she’s “pro-choice,”Shirley encourages the crowd to pressure Lainy into keeping the babythat Shirley thinks she is pregnant with. In this context, someone pushing a woman not to have an abortion is portrayed as a morally wrong act.
Of course, Lainy isn’t really pregnant. Yet,she does come out in defense of what she believes is a woman’s right to have an abortion, and suggests that it could be a good move to make. “Jesus, Shirley, I would,” she tells her nemesis, before adding, “Kate has." This revelation places both Lainy and Kate side-by-side in opposition to Shirley’s attempts to pressure out of a hypothetical abortion. This scene plays out completely contrary to the one scene in which thehighest-grossing rom-comabout pregnancy,Knocked Up,even mentions abortion.
Knocked Up Generally Ignores The Topic Of Abortion
A Scene With Allison and Ben Discussing Whether To Keep The Baby Was Cut From The Movie
The question of Katherine Heigl’s protagonist Allison Scott having an abortion inKnocked Upfeatures in a brief and inconsequential 45-second scene. Allison tells her mother, one ofKnocked Up’s least likable characters, about the pregnancy. Her mother responds that she should, “Take care of it.” WhereasKinda Pregnantportrays Shirley as pressuring and insensitive for trying to make Lainy keep a baby, Allison’s mother is portrayed the same way for trying to make her daughter have an abortion. “It’s important to me that you be supportive,” Allison tells her, effectivelytelling her mother that she’s being unsupportive with her suggestion.
This scene is the only time abortion is raised as an option for Allison or as an issue in any way, throughout the entirety ofKnocked Up. Interestingly, a three and a half-minute scene in which Allison and Ben discuss in detailwhether they should keep the baby was cut from the movie, perhaps to avoid courting controversy. Conversely,Kinda Pregnantmakes no bones about its position on abortion, and confronts the issue directly.
Most Hollywood Movies & TV Shows Avoid Bigger Discussions On Abortion In Pregnancy Stories
They Typically Steer Clear Of The Issue
This approach makesKinda Pregnantalmost unique among major Hollywood releases.Big American studios generally like to avoid discussing abortionduring pregnancy stories altogether. Shows fromMalcolm In The MiddletoThe Simpsonsand movies fromWaitresstoBridget Jones’ Babyall steer clear of mentioning abortion as an option when someone gets pregnant. Others are neutral or non-committal on the subject, as is the case with Diablo Cody’s emotional comedy-dramaJuno.
5 Best Movies Like Kinda Pregnant
Amy Schumer’s Kinda Pregnant features a unique plot for a romantic comedy, but those who enjoyed it may find a handful of films to be similar.
It’s only recently that abortion has begun to be presented as a genuine option for women in major movies and TV shows on a more regular basis, in shows likeSex Educationand films likeUnpregnant. Decades before these movies and shows,Fast Times At Ridgemont Highwas a rare exception among Hollywood movies in depicting an abortion. Four decades later,Kinda Pregnantis still bucking the general trend in the way it handles the issue.
