Life as We Know It

2010

Life as We Know It

Critics Consensus

Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel make a charming couple with plenty of chemistry, but that isn't enough to make up for Life as We Know It's formulaic plot and poorly written script.

29%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 150

61%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 82,447

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Movie Info

Two people who can't stand each other are forced to care for the same child in this domestic comedy drama starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. Holly (Heigl) is a caterer whose career is just getting off the ground; Eric (Duhamel) directs sports for a major network. Their first date was a nightmare, and now they're about to become a family. When their goddaughter Sophie's parents both perish in a tragic accident, Holly and Eric are informed that they were singled out as Sophie's caretakers in the event of an unforeseen disaster. Now, in order to raise Sophie right, this bickering pair must put their differences aside while mastering the fine art of parenthood. Coordinating their new lives and getting along won't be easy for Eric and Holly, but somewhere between the conflicting schedules and drastic lifestyle changes, the reluctant couple realizes that with a help from Sophie, they're starting to resemble a real family. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for sexual material, language and some drug content)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Gary Berlanti, Greg Berlanti
  • Written By:
    Ian Deitchman, Kristin Rusk Robinson
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $53,358,964
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

Katherine Heigl
as Holly Berenson
Josh Duhamel
as Eric Messer
Josh Lucas
as Sam
Alexis Clagett
as Sophie
Brynn Clagett
as Sophie
Brooke Clagett
as Sophie
Hayes MacArthur
as Peter Novak
Christina Hendricks
as Alison Novak
Sarah Burns
as Janine Groff
Jessica St. Clair
as Beth
Brooke Liddell
as Older Sophie
Kiley Liddell
as Older Sophie
Britt Flatmo
as Amy
Rob Huebel
as Ted
Melissa McCarthy
as Deedee
DeRay Davis
as Lonnie
Kumail Nanjiani
as Simon
Andrew Daly
as Scott
Bill Brochtrup
as Gary
Will Sasso
as Josh
Majandra Delfino
as Jenna
Jason MacDonald
as Cousin
Tara Ochs
as Cousin's Wife
Wilbur Fitzgerald
as Peter's Dad
Melissa Ponzio
as Victoria (Stripper Cousin)
Reggie Lee
as Alan Burke
Markus Flanagan
as Chef Phillipe
Brooke Josephson
as Liz
Chanta Rivers
as CPS Worker
Eric Phillips
as Stoned Teenager
Andy Buckley (II)
as George Dunn
L. Warren Young
as Officer Young
Johanna Jowett
as Jill
Jody Thompson
as Worker
Horace Toney
as Court Clerk
Millie Fairchild
as Older Woman
Rob Nagle
as Neighbor Dad
Katie Kneeland
as Female Patron
Kate Kneeland
as Female Patron
Patricia French
as Judge Gorling
Ron Clinton Smith
as Contractor
Antwan Mills
as Airport Security
Steve Nash
as Himself
Shayne Kohout
as Pregnant Woman With Deedee
Danielle L. Grant
as Ticket Counter Lady
Eddie Frierson
as Sports Announcer
Jean Smart
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Critic Reviews for Life as We Know It

All Critics (150) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (107)

  • Despite the film's initial overloading of suburban stereotypes, the easy gags about promiscuity, baby vomit and nappy changing gradually give way to a pretty decent, if strictly formulaic, yarn about commitment and unexpected life changes.

    October 21, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

    Jim Schembri

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • Pure Hollywood corn, saccharine and sour by turns.

    October 20, 2010 | Full Review…

    Jake Wilson

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • This is the first produced script from the writers and they find more flexibility in this story than I expected. There is space for depth, drama and real life.

    October 20, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Paul Byrnes

    Sydney Morning Herald
    Top Critic

  • We keep seeing Heigl's potential as a fine comic actress and, the curse of optimism, continue to be disappointed when she betrays her best instincts.

    October 12, 2010 | Full Review…

    Richard Corliss

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

  • The title becomes a depressingly self-fulfilling prophecy: This is movie life as we have all come to know it.

    October 8, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Sean P. Means

    Film.com
    Top Critic

  • Watching Duhamel and Heigl discover the joys and pains of parenthood is cute as far as it goes, but their story can't progress too far until the kid is out of diapers.

    October 8, 2010 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Amy Biancolli

    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (150)

Audience Reviews for Life as We Know It

  • Mar 16, 2013
    I actually really liked this one. I thought Katherine and Josh had great chemistry. And I also felt they were realistic characters. I also thought it had a realistic touch of what parenting is like. I liked the story. It was cute,charming,funny and touching all rolled into one. I thought it was kind of predictable though...and I didn't like the social worker character. She seemed too much like a cartoon character. Some of the neighbours (like Melissa McCarthy's character for instance) I just didn't care for. Besides, those things I liked the movie and I liked the acting in it. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it so much since I thought it would be pretty average. Yeah, it wasn't perfect and could have been improved in places but I think its worth a viewing.
    m h Super Reviewer
  • Sep 18, 2011
    "Life as we Know it" is clichés after clichés but somehow it manages to be a good entertaining film with some positive things. The two leads certainly make the film, keeping the vibe to the movie, delivering above average performance and fitting the whole idea of the story as well as any two people could.
    John M Super Reviewer
  • Aug 08, 2011
    I actually enjoyed the film... and I noticed that on this site has VERY LOW RATINGS! For me "Life as We Know It" was funny and the director Greg Berlanti used very well the chemistry between the gorgeous Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. The story of Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl), who is the owner of a small Atlanta bakery and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel), known as Messer, who is a promising television technical sports director for the Atlanta Hawks, was easy to follow. After a disastrous first date set up by their best friends (Peter and Alison), all they have in common are their mutual dislike and their love for their shared goddaughter, Sophie Christina Novak, who is Peter and Alison's child. Things change after a car accident kills both Peter and Alison, and they are left as the one-year-old Sophie's legal guardians. Do not expect something extra in this movie. Script wasn't perfect (far from it) and it followed "safe" formula for chick flicks... but most of us watching it enjoyed it... is that enough for 60%? For me it was!
    Panta O Super Reviewer
  • Jul 18, 2011
    It may have some dull lines, and the good thing is that this movie dosent have soo much clichè jokes in the script, also this is a movie that some people have already seen from another film, but the two leads are charming, sometimes goofy (in a good way), funny, and the chemistry and the drama is also a good touch to the film, and the supporting cast is a smart move for the movie. Life As We Know It is a film you have watched, but the charming, dramatic, and funny performances from its two leads, and the supporting cast can make the movie worth your time.
    Angel G Super Reviewer
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