REVIEW: 'What to Expect When You're Expecting'

Comedy-drama based on the non-fiction pregnancy guide of the same name, focusing on the lives of five couples and their initiation into parenthood. All-star cast includes Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock and Anna Kendrick. Click here for movie times.

--------------------------------------------------

Here's one for the internet generation with attention spans so short we need a new storyline every two minutes. What to Expect When You're Expecting rockets through every babymaking scenario of the best-selling pregnancy guidebook that 'inspired' the film. The whoopsie daisy pregnancy. The difficult conception. The adoption. The result is a hodgepodge in tone ricocheting from drama to parody with glimmers of emotional punch.

These multi-star anthology rom-coms, sparked by the hugely popular Love Actually, keep rolling off the Hollywood sausage machine. The big names on the poster (Diaz! J-Lo!) draw punters in but the best and funniest performances come from the supporting roles. While our leading ladies suffer the ignominy of public vomit and pee, the men take to weekly support walks in the park.

Chris Rock charms as the chief of the motley 'dudes group'. Other laughs are served up by Bridesmaids alumni; Ben Falcone, aka Air Marshall Jon, almost unrecognisable as Elizabeth Banks' puppy dog husband; schlubby, shameless Brit, Rebel Wilson playing type and Wendi McLendon-Covey (the blonde mum Bridesmaid) stealing scenes from J-Lo. Dennis Quaid thieves the screen too as a retired racecar driver with a trophy wife (Brooklyn Decker).

Yup, that's a lot of characters. There's not enough space in this review to mention them all. That's how these sausage films work; overstuffed and bland but leave you feeling warm inside. The cinematic equivalent of comfort food.

• Watch trailer for What to Expect When You're Expecting
• More on What to Expect When You're Expecting