Customer Reviews

Junior

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger is probably my favorite movie star. For my money, there is no greater action hero. I think I enjoy him even more, though, in his lighter, more comedic movies. Take "Junior," for example. It is one of the most charming, delightful and funny films I've seen in a long time. Arnold proves once again that he is as comfortable and self-assured in high concept comedy as he is in high octane action. This film is a real winner.

Schwarzenegger stars as Dr. Alex Hesse, a biochemist doing research on a revolutionary new wonder drug that eliminates miscarriages. Helping him to develop "Expectane" is Dr. Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito), an obstetrician and fertility doctor. Their project is jeopardized, though, when the FDA refuses to give them approval. The university cuts off their funding, kicks them out and turns their lab over to Dr. Diana Reddin (Emma Thompson).

Fearing the loss of a potential fortune, Arbogast convinces Alex to test the drug on himself. They implant a fertilized egg in Alex's stomach and he starts taking Expectane, along with huge doses of female hormones. Those hormones set-up most of the comedy in the film, along with some of its better moments.

Alex gradually starts to take on the "typical" traits of a pregnant woman. He has mood swings, desires for strange food, soft skin and tender nipples. Watching Arnold play these scenes is part of what makes this film so enjoyable. The hormones don't keep him from falling in love, though. Alex's romance with the shy, awkward Dr. Reddin is both cute and funny.

The casting is probably the best thing about "Junior." It's hard to imagine any other actor pulling this off. As in "Twins" and "Kindergarten Cop," Schwarzenegger plays against his macho image, getting both laughs and smiles by showing us his kinder, gentler side. As a performer, he just keeps getting better and better.

It should come as no surprise that Ivan Reitman, the director of those two earlier Schwarzenegger films, was at the helm of "Junior." His steady, unobtrusive touch is just what is needed for both the laughs and the more poignant moments in the story. Coming on the heels of his previous film "Dave," Reitman is emerging as the top director of light comedy in the business. The screenplay by Kevin Wade and Chris Conrad is quite good, with just the right mix of funny and serious moments.

Emma Thompson sets aside the staid, upper class image that serves her so well in Merchant-Ivory productions, and returns to her comedic roots, turning in a terrific performance that hits all the right notes. DeVito's character is not a new one for him, but he plays it excellently all the same.

"Junior" is a wonderful film for the whole family. Younger kids might be a little bored by it, but older ones-along with their parents-will find plenty to enjoy.

At first I really didn't want to see this movie but was forced into it,much like Alex Hesse (schwarzenegger) was talked into doing an illegal scientific experiment on himself by his collegue Larry Arbogast (DeVito).

Alex has invented a wonderful new drug to help women who tend to have miscarriages.After the FDA won't approve expectane and the university kicks him out of their lab Alex decides to move back to europe.Larry talks him into doing an experiment on himself so that they can get funding for more research.And after they get enough data they'll end it and noone will ever know.

But the problem is Alex gets attatched to his unborn baby and continues taking the expectane without Larry knowing,of course he eventually does find out and aggrees to help him.

Along the way though Alex falls in love with Dr. Diana Reddin (Thompson) and she has a key role in the movie so pay attention in the resturant scene.

I don't understand why so many people didn't enjoy this film.Maybe it's because they have no sense of what a good movie really is.

I recomend this movie because it's heartwarming,sweet,and it's just plain funny to see Arnold have morning sickness.

To say the least, "Junior" proposes a VERY original and hilarious concept, and that is of a man being literally pregnant. Dr. Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito) talks Dr. Alex Hesse (Arnold Schwarzenegger) into going through a secret experiment in which he will be injected with something that will make him pregnant, even though he's a man. However, things go haywire when Dr. Hesse actually decides to go all the way with actually having the baby.

I don't know about everybody else, but the concept of a man having a baby in itself was beyond hilarious to me at first. Since Danny DeVito is one of the main stars, I knew the movie had a great chance of being an effective comedy. To say the least, "Junior" IS hilarious. When you see Arnold Scwarzenegger pregnant and performing some of the antics such as pretending to be a woman and trying to hide the fact that he's pregnant, if you have a sense of humor, then I guarantee that you will bust out laughing!

If you like comedy movies, especially ones that are entirely original, you've gotta at least rent "Junior." But I recommend for all comedy fans to purchase the movie because it's more than worth it!!

Without question, an under-rated, subversive, classic farce, and a study of total inversion. Examples of the latter include

Arnold - the Last Action Hero becomes a sensitive "Mommy"?

Danny DeVito - usually plays the heavy; now plays the major sympathetic role in the movie

Emma Thompson - takes a break from the Shakespeare in favor of physical comedy

As many other reviewers have stated, this movie is also a realistic and side-splitting look at pregnancy.

The subversion is its underlying pro-life theme: "My body, my choice", inverted. This is so politically incorrect that I often wonder how Reitman got away with it.

To the Aussies who reviewed this a while back: What the hell were you expecting? A Predator sequel, maybe? Yeah, I remember when I had my first beer.....

This documentary follows 2 years in the life of a brave scientist, Dr. Alex Hesse who is willing to sacrifice his own time, health, and life to answer the question that has boggled the minds of men since the dawn of time; Is it possible for men to bear children, and if so, are they better at doing it then women or simply different. While its obvious throughout the film that the male body is not designed for the carrying of a child, Dr. Hesse does it with a grace and without complaining (at least that is shown). The film is powerful and magical

A pregnant man is the worst thing to have ever been created for movie history. Of all actors to have portrayed such an embarrassment, it was the lord Arnold Schwarzenegger. Disappointment! The man who made "Twins" and "Kindergarten Cop" made this terrifying display of cinema. Although, the movie is terrible, I loved it! Arnold Schwarzenegger proved that he can do anything because he's immortal. I almost forgot that when I was watching this. The first pregnant man in the world concept became fascinating to me and I appreciated Schwarzenegger, DeVito and Thompson's efforts to entertain me. This is a touching tale that the whole family should watch over and over.

My boyfriend thought it was both funny and compassionate. Although neither of us particularly cared for twins, there was something hillarious about a pregnant man who is played by an actor usually associated with all of the "Macho action roles"

In all fairness, I don't think it would have been the same if they had Devito or even a smaller built actor in the role. Because the casting was psychologically atypical for a physiologically atypical movie, it made all of the difference in the world.

Myself and many other women flocked to see this movie (even if we were still single and childless) because of the fantasies. Although wearing the "Pregnancy suit" must have not been easy, one can applaud Schwarzenegger for taking on the role---a move probally not appreciated in some (but thankfully not all) segments of his fan base.

This is problally by far one of Arnold's few movies that plays on female non-sexual fantasies. It is also the best movie to rent around that certain time.

What a hoot! Arnold really captures the art of BEING pregnant. As a mother and a grandmother I can honestly say, 'he nailed it'. Never before have I seen anybody portray pregnancy with such a laugh a minute humor. It's a movie to watch over and over again.

Junior is a great film for ages 10 and up. An intresting Family Film. Its almost believable that Arnold is pregnent, but not quite. Arnold's too masqulin. Emma is (as always) terrific, 5 stars for her!!!

Junior is a comedy that reunites the team of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito and director Ivan Reitman. In the film, Arnold is a scientist who agreed to take a experimental drug that helps women have babies, and , along with DeVito's help, the results is hilarious. Oscar-winner Emma Thompson(Stranger than Fiction)also stars in this silly but excellent film. Junior is one of the many movies Schwarzenegger is popular as a comedic actor rather than a action star.