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Life As We Know It

Life As We Know It

Comedy · Romance · Drama · 2010

After a disastrous first date for caterer Holly and network sports director Messer, all they have in common is a dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in this world, Holly and Messer must set their differences aside. Juggling careers and social calendars, they'll have to find common ground while living under the same roof.

Movie details

Life As We Know It

“A comedy about taking it one step at a time.”

2010 Comedy · Romance · Drama 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

After a disastrous first date for caterer Holly and network sports director Messer, all they have in common is a dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in this world, Holly and Messer must set their differences aside. Juggling careers and social calendars, they'll have to find common ground while living under the same roof.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Life As We Know It?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Greg Berlanti

Written by

Ian Deitchman · Kristin Rusk Robinson

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl

Holly Berenson

Josh Duhamel

Josh Duhamel

Eric Messer

Josh Lucas

Josh Lucas

Sam

A

Alexis Clagett

Sophie

B

Brynn Clagett

Sophie

B

Brooke Clagett

Sophie

Hayes MacArthur

Hayes MacArthur

Peter Novak

Court is in session

Put Life As We Know It on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.