I Don’t Know How She Does It (2011)

Directed by: Douglas McGrath | 89 minutes | comedy | Actors: Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Munn, Seth Meyers, Kelsey Grammer, Christina Hendricks, Emma Rayne Lyle, Jane Curtin, Mark Blum, Jessica Szohr, Busy Philipps, Sarah Shahi, Jennifer Butler, Ronald Scott Maestri

How does she do it, that Sarah Jessica Parker? Combining a successful job with the care of two growing children, while parading around in designer clothes and Manolo Blahniks without hesitation. As a wealthy Hollywood star, she has it easy, of course, since she has a nanny who takes care of dirty diapers and other inconveniences so that La Parker can visit the shows of the hottest fashion designers. But in the film ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ (2011) she wants us to believe that she has a hard time keeping all the balls in the air at once. Her character may be called Kate Reddy, but she is clearly a variation of Parker’s signature role Carrie Bradshaw from ‘Sex and the City’. Including the voice-over that provides sharp commentary on the events. Where have we seen that before…?

Kate Reddy is a hardworking mother of two eager to prove herself in a real man’s world, the financial sector. But if she really wants to make a career, then her family life will start to suffer. Hubby Richard (Greg Kinnear) is not the angriest and is willing to babysit every now and then, but when he too is offered a big job at work, the relationship comes under pressure. The fact that Kate is allowed to work with the attractive businessman Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan) does not really help to keep her relationship with Richard stable. Will Kate really have to choose between her job and her family, or will she be able to get out of this predicament wonderfully?

‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ is the film adaptation of a purebred chicklit, the book of the same name by Allison Pearson. For lovers of this genre, this toothless romantic comedy is undoubtedly a feast, the neutral viewer will quickly get bored. No cliche surrounding the phenomenon of ‘working mother’ is shunned. The relationship between men and women in the workplace has also been featured on the silver screen before. Because of course Kate also has a male colleague who preys on her successes. Then her female colleague Momo (Olivia Munn) looks a lot cheaper. Not a hair on her head that she will ever become a working mother, she doesn’t worry about it. Her career is much more important. Until… (fill in yourself, it’s not that hard to guess). It shows the predictability of the film. Fortunately, Munn plays the part nicely, so it’s not a punishment to keep watching. The same goes for Pierce Brosnan, the charming businessman who really gets along with Kate, and Christina Hendricks as Kate’s best friend. They give a little bit of color to this rombow. Kinnear, a fine actor, does not get any room to flourish here. Unfortunate. Parker is as she always is – either you love her or you hate her. The quasi-serious revelations that people around Kate are making about her add little and could have been left out.

This romantic comedy is yet another vehicle that fits Sarah Jessica Parker like a shoe—in this case, a towering Manolo Blahnik. ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ is a real no-nonsense film that always colors within the lines and never manages to excite. Because the supporting roles are nicely filled in and the pace is tight, this Douglas McGrath-directed film easily looks away. Not very high quality, well-developed, mildly humorous. Despite this, many women will recognize themselves in Kate, making this ideal fodder for a genuine girls night.