She's Having a Baby (1988)

48% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(11,531 ratings)

An aspiring writer faces up to the responsibilities of marriage and family in this romantic comedy from writer, director, and producer John Hughes. Despite the misgivings he pours out to best friend Davis McDonald (Alec Baldwin), Jake Briggs (Kevin Bacon) marries high-school sweetheart Kristy… More An aspiring writer faces up to the responsibilities of marriage and family in this romantic comedy from writer, director, and producer John Hughes. Despite the misgivings he pours out to best friend Davis McDonald (Alec Baldwin), Jake Briggs (Kevin Bacon) marries high-school sweetheart Kristy (Elizabeth McGovern). After an abortive attempt at graduate school in New Mexico, the couple settles in suburban Chicago. Jake fakes his way into a job as an advertising copywriter, while Kristy settles into her own corporate job. The couple faces the typical ups and downs of any new marriage, especially after Davis visits with a bimbo on his arm, regaling his pal Jake with tales of the good life. A few years later, Kristy decides to stop taking her birth-control pills -- and tells Jake about it three months later. Plagued by doubts, unfulfilled ambitions, and images of a fantasy girl (Isabel Lorca) he once spotted in a club, Jake resists the idea of fatherhood. Then he finds out he has low sperm count and, his manhood thus challenged, lines up for fertility clinic-assisted stud duty. The birth doesn't go as smoothly as Jake expected, however, setting the stage for climactic realizations. Edie McClurg, who played the nosy school secretary in Hughes' Ferris Bueller's Day Off, makes a cameo appearance as an officious neighbor. In addition, a who's who of other Hughes alums and Hollywood stars lend their faces and voices to a series of closing-credits shots in which each suggests a name for the titular baby. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: John Hughes
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 5, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Nov 21, 2000
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
So very little works in She's Having a Baby that it's easiest just to grouse on how petty and little-minded and pro-conformity it is.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
A rare failure from filmmaker John Hughes...
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Deals with a husband who just doesn't want to grow up and face his responsibilities.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
The Hughes formula at its thinnest.
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic
It should have been the movie where Hughes got Oscar nominations; the Academy weren't going to award his comedies, but here is where he showed he could branch out and grow up.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
When good Hughes goes bad.
Kevin Fiddler, Henderson Home News (Henderson, NV)
Hilarious look at married life in Suburban Chicago

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

Really good, despite weak. Don't appear to be a John Hughes's film.
AJ V

Hughes writes and directs this comedy drama of a young married couple. It is mostly dramatic, but it does have a good amount of humour throughout the film, which makes it really enjoyable. It's a good film.
Megan S

Okay, not the greatest John Hughes movie of course. Watching movies like this make me wonder why some people get married in the first place and it makes me feel lucky to have such a positive relationship, the fights are so stupid!
David L

This is John Hughes comic tale about a young man's struggle to mature in the face of marriage and impending fatherhood. Kevin Bacon is perfectly cast as the loving husband not quite willing to give up his dreams of bachelorhood. He's 100% committed to his wife, he just… More
This is John Hughes comic tale about a young man's struggle to mature in the face of marriage and impending fatherhood. Kevin Bacon is perfectly cast as the loving husband not quite willing to give up his dreams of bachelorhood. He's 100% committed to his wife, he just isn't quite ready to move on to the next step. Not wanting to create waves he agrees to start trying to get pregnant. which only makes his anxiety worse...and more amusing. Sex becomes a chore and his wife a mess of hormones he can't ever seem to please. The baby has already changed his life and it hasn't even arrived. Things only get worse once she becomes pregnant, culminating in an intense birth scene that teaches our hero the value of his marriage. It may take two to make a baby, but this is Bacon's show all the way. He plays this role with energy, honesty and intelligence. By using everyday situations, Hughes makes the humor all the more approachable and funny. Bacon's actions aren't always likable, but you can't really blame him for feeling the way he does. Parenthood is a huge step, and though this is a comedy, it treats the situation with the respect it deserves. Though the film misfires at points, it is overall an enchanting story about life, love and starting a family.
Cassandra M

If you haven't seen this lovely little film yet, and you are due to be a young family man, I recommend it. Watch it with you significant other, and dare to try and not shed a tear, both laughing and really crying. If you're an 80's music fan, there's simply another… More
If you haven't seen this lovely little film yet, and you are due to be a young family man, I recommend it. Watch it with you significant other, and dare to try and not shed a tear, both laughing and really crying. If you're an 80's music fan, there's simply another great reason to love this film. Plus, Hughes uses fantasy outakes in a way few people had done prior to Ally Macbeal. It renders what could have been a generally typical, boring "chick-flick" a decently entertaining picture.
Leigh R

So cute. They were so young it was just adorable.
Dean M

Bit funny with the young married couple in their dream life has turned into a series of nightmares until the wife tells the interesting news.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Kevin Bacon as Jefferson "Jake" Briggs

            Elizabeth McGovern as Kristy Briggs

            Alec Baldwin as Davis McDonald

            Isabel Lorca as Fantasy Girl

            William Windom as Russ Bainbridge

            Cathryn Damon as Gayle Bainbridge

            Holland Taylor as Sarah Briggs

            James Ray as Jim Briggs

            Dennis Dugan as Bill

            Nancy Lenehan as Cynthia

            John Ashton as Ken

            Edie McClurg as Lynn

            Paul Gleason as Howard

            Larry Hankin as Hank

            Valeri Breiman as Erin

            Angela Alvarado as Model

            Bill Erwin as Grandfather

            Al Leong as Photographer

            Kellye Nakahara as Nurse at Hospital

            Lisa Niemi as Model

            Gail O'Grady as Laura

            Lydia Peterkoch
            
            Cindy Pickett as Suggesting baby names (uncredited)

            Terrie Snell as Dancer

            Steve Tannen as Man with Bike

            Lili Taylor as Girl at Medical Lab

            Ingrid Ferrin as Nurse

            Reba McKinney as Grandmother

            Sherry Narens as Nurse at Medical Lab
See full cast