Jennifer Aniston is clearly unable to break away from these similar roles, despite the fact she is capable of so much more, “The Good Girl” as an example.

Kassie (Aniston) is a 40 something successful NY career woman with everything, including her best friend Wally (Jason Bateman) and BFF Debbie (Juliette Lewis). There is a gaping hole in her life though, she has no baby to look after. To make matters worse, no real opportunity exists for one to miraculously appear as the whole dating thing is not going well.

The fact that most viewers will know that to some degree art is imitating life, does make some of the scenes more poignant. The ever dependable Bateman plays Wally as a neurotic nice guy, hopelessly in love with Kassie but completely unable to make his intentions clear. We know this because he tells his best friend Leonard (Jeff Goldblum) which provides much of the humour in the film.

Quite why Kassie cannot see what is clearly front and centre i.e. Wally, is not immediately obvious. Anyway, Kassie decides a baby is what she needs and rounds up a suitable AI donor in the form of good looking easy going, Roland (Patrick Wilson), who represents everything Wally is not.

At the “I’m getting pregnant” party, yes you read that right, circumstances dictate that Wally gets drunk and the “offering” gets mistakenly lost and a spare is required. Fortunately Wally can stand in, providing a suitable magazine can be found to set the, er, right mood.

A couple of mentions of turkey basters later, Kassie gets pregnant and promptly moves out of town, making Wally rather sad but then returns six years later and guess what?

Sebastian (Robinson) acts like, bonds with and obviously is, a mini Wally. Eventually, despite the denial and the, “can’t remember that night as too drunk”, even Wally can recognize.

At the Zoo Sabastian asks what Hypochondria is – “Oh my god, I have that too” he defiantly claims.

For a movie Moppet, Robinson does very well, all wide eyed and natural and the scenes between him and Bateman are touching and feel genuine. When tucking him into bed there is real emotion on display as Wally realises what he has to lose. The dilemma he faces is to admit to the swap and likely forfeit everything or say nothing to derail the rather improbable proposal from the newly divorced Roland and lose again.

The interaction with Glodblum is fun, Aniston plays “Rachel” yet again but it serves the films purpose in this particular context. The potential for crude humour is kept to a minimum and the film is reasonably mature in its outlook.

The voiceover provided by Bateman is unnecessary and attempts to add depth where none is required. The central premise of Wally’s unsuitability and the amnesia plot device necessary to make the story work, are difficult to ignore. There is nothing groundbreaking here but generally the film fulfills a feel good movie criteria and hits most of the bases, as it should with the talent on offer.

Summary

A likeable enough comedy with some touching scenes, recommended for an undemanding night in.