Amy Schumer is back in the Netflix comedy “Kinda Pregnant,” where she plays a woman pretending to be pregnant in a dated and mostly unfunny attempt to bring back the broad studio comedy
When it comes to comedy, Amy Schumer has made a name for herself by tackling the messy side of life with humor and boldness.
Yet, with her new film, Kinda Pregnant, it feels like she’s trying to reclaim a bit of the old magic but stumbles a little along the way.
This Netflix comedy brings back some of the familiar elements that made Schumer a beloved figure, but unfortunately, it often gets lost in the shuffle of predictability and overused tropes.
Let’s face it: I’m always rooting for Amy Schumer. I truly am! When she shines, she shines bright, especially during her time on Inside Amy Schumer, which ran from 2013 to 2016.
Her mix of clever satire, bawdy humor, and sharp commentary on sexism and the experiences of women was innovative and refreshing in a pop-feminist era.
While we’ve seen her brilliance in previous works, with Kinda Pregnant, it seems she’s borrowed from her past successes but hasn’t quite captured the same spark.
Details about ‘Kinda Pregnant‘ are Below;
- Title: Kinda Pregnant
- Director: Tyler Spindel
- Writers: Amy Schumer, Julie Paiva
- Genre: Comedy
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Release Date: February 5, 2025
The film, directed by Tyler Spindel and co-written by Schumer and Julie Paiva, revolves around Schumer’s character, Lainy, a Brooklyn schoolteacher who is desperately trying to figure out her life.
As she contemplates the pressures of starting a family, her dreams are thrown into chaos when her best friend Kate, played by Jillian Bell, announces that she’s pregnant.
Feeling left behind and jealous, Lainy concocts a wild plan: she’ll pretend to be pregnant herself. The premise could have been a fertile ground for comedy, exploring relationships and the fickleness of female friendships. Instead, the execution often feels stale and overly familiar.
The strength of Kinda Pregnant lies in its physically comedic moments. The film takes a lot of its humor from Schumer stuffing various items under her shirt as part of her fake pregnancy. But while these gags might produce laughter, they can only take the film so far.
There’s a sense that the comedy is trying too hard to recreate the magic of past hits like Trainwreck without really bringing anything new to the table.
Despite attempting to explore dynamic concepts—like the insecurities women face when comparing themselves to their peers—the film mostly resorts to pratfalls and physical humor instead of deeper insights.
The supporting cast brings a level of excitement that helps elevate the film in spots. Jillian Bell is particularly notable as Kate, serving as Lainy’s voice of reason while also navigating her own complexities as a pregnant woman.
Cast of “Kinda Pregnant”:
- Amy Schumer as ‘Lainy‘
- Jillian Bell as ‘Kate‘
- Brianne Howey as ‘Megan‘
- Will Forte as ‘Josh‘
- Urzila Carlson as the ‘school counselor‘
Their interactions sometimes offer the most genuine moments in the film, as they navigate the unspoken rifts that frustration and jealousy can create in a friendship.
Then there’s Will Forte, who plays Josh, Kate’s caring and easygoing brother, with whom Lainy flirts as part of her charade. Forte manages to shine in his role, offering a natural and humorous counterpoint to Schumer’s flamboyant antics.
Their chemistry is effective, and the scenes they share provide some much-needed levity in an otherwise uneven narrative.
However, while Kinda Pregnant features moments that land with humor, it doesn’t shy away from a few missed opportunities when it comes to real emotional depth.
Lainy’s character is built around backstory: she wants to become a parent after losing her mother at a young age. But the film struggles to give her a real, relatable point of view. Instead, she sometimes feels reactive, lacking an engaging perspective on her dilemmas.
Entering the world of pregnancy humor can be tricky, and Kinda Pregnant touches on pertinent themes around societal attitudes toward pregnant women, the anxieties of falling behind in life, and the bittersweet emotions tied to friendships.
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Unfortunately, it frequently stops short of engaging with these issues meaningfully. The result is a film that leans heavily on familiar comedy styles, giving it an air of predictability.
In some ways, the film is reminiscent of films like Bridesmaids and The Big Sick, which shine in their relatable portrayals of the messiness of adult relationships.
But Kinda Pregnant often feels like it’s reaching back for inspiration rather than forging a new path.
The concept of pretending to be pregnant as a way to garner attention sounds like something that could have been a brilliant sketch from Inside Amy Schumer, but it often misses the biting satire that her earlier work embraced.
Much of the humor also feels diluted by a reliance on clichés. The film’s allure of playing with social commentary, like poking fun at gender reveal parties or the societal obsession with motherhood, seems promising but doesn’t dig into the issues deeply enough to resonate or provoke thought.
As a result, while there are comical moments, they feel superficial, rather than insightful.
Let’s also address the film’s presentation. Like many Netflix productions, Kinda Pregnant suffers from a somewhat polished and over-lit aesthetic that can feel impersonal.
This absence of warmth can detract from the comedic performances, making the film feel more like a product than a heartfelt creation.
Ultimately, Kinda Pregnant finds its groove in moments of relatable honesty, particularly in the shifting dynamics of friendships as individuals embark on new life chapters.
Schumer’s exploration of jealousy and insecurity brings some authenticity to the comedy, but they are often overshadowed by louder, flashier gags that don’t hit the mark.
While Schumer’s comedic talent is on display, it raises the question: has the comedy landscape changed, or has Schumer’s approach to it? In the last decade since her breakout film Trainwreck, mainstream comedies have shifted, and Kinda Pregnant seems to reflect that broader state of uncertainty.
In conclusion, Kinda Pregnant is a comedy with undoubted charm, but it also struggles to connect the dots.
There are bits of humor and heart, yet the film often feels caught between earnest exploration and simply delivering laughs through familiar setups.
For devoted fans of Schumer, there’s enough to enjoy, but for those expecting a fresh take, they might find it lacking in the depth and originality they crave.
Kinda Pregnant is now available on Netflix, and whether you find it delightful or disappointing, one thing is sure—it continues the conversation about the ever-evolving world of comedy.