Star gets testy when “Obvious Child” billed as “abortion rom-com”
As commenter Christina noted on Facebook (a line I stole on Twitter), “Let’s make abortion the central theme of a comedy, then pretend we’re not trivializing it and trying to make it funny.”
But that’s exactly what the star of a romantic comedy about abortion is trying to say.
The movie Obvious Child is debuting across the pond, and before it has gone reviews and opinions from America, pretty much all pegging it as “the abortion romcom,” to quote The Guardian.
But the movie’s star, Jenny Slate (pictured above in a scene from the movie), doesn’t like that portrayal:
“Ugh, that is such a bummer, that term. An abortion romcom – that’s not a thing!” Slate says with an eye-roll. “The movie isn’t saying that abortions are funny. It’s saying that people are funny.”
That’s not what Slate’s comedic pal Jimmy Fallon thought when complimenting her on the picture. “It’s getting great reviews because it’s a serious issue, but you make it lighthearted, you make it funny,” said Fallon, as quoted by NewsBusters.
And Slate kept her thoughts to herself when Obvious Child was being plugged by Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards:
This is a hilarious and honest story about one young woman trying to figure out life and dating, and it includes an unapologetic look at her decision to have an abortion….
[I]t shows her as a full and complete person making the serious decision to end a pregnancy and still having a full and fun life.
Or when the Los Angeles Times was giving Obvious Child rave reviews as “finally, a romantic comedy about abortion.”
If this wasn’t a rom-com about abortion, why all the advance screenings for the abortion industry? Why was Planned Parenthood consulted in the making of the film, “vetting the script and allowing them to shoot in a clinic”? quoting Mother Jones.
But Slate and director Gillian Robespierre apparently no longer need abortion zealots to help them sell their movie. That or they have found abortion advocates are really no help at all – perhaps radioactive even?
Whatever, they’re now shunning the “abortion rom-com” label, to which I tweeted yesterday:
Promoting @ObviousChildMov across the pond @jennyslate doesnt like it being called an "abortion rom-com" http://t.co/6oTOxwglaY Own it Jenny
— Jill Stanek (@JillStanek) August 26, 2014
A few hours later Slate responded:
https://twitter.com/jennyslate/status/504384636034629633
I did see the movie, Jenny. It’s a romantic comedy about abortion. Again, own it. What’s the problem?
[HT: AntiRHOfficial on Twitter; second photo of Slate viaPlanned Parenthood]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Maybe she would prefer it be called a “choice” or “reproductive justice” rom-com. I forget which euphemism they are using this week.
For a movie that tanked so badly at the box office and has no chance at breaking even, J. Slate should be happy that people are even talking about it still.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=obviouschild.htm
That’s probably why she is so snarky. As an actress, she doesn’t care if the distributors make any money. She just wants to be remembered.
(I see that THE GUARDIAN noticed this too. OBVIOUS CHILD is a winner to some because it is still generating some buzz.)
We agree…. Any public conversation about abortion is another moment of win for the pro-life movement.
Thanks for posting the numbers Del. It was in 15 theaters last weekend, it’s done for. Perhaps it will do better overseas, where ironically their popular cultures are more comfortable with abortion, yet have much stricter laws on abortion than we have.
I guess I kind of get what she’s saying, like, the abortion itself isn’t the SOURCE of the humor… but that’s splitting some pretty fine hairs. Nobody would be upset if I described Juno as a teen pregnancy rom-com.
Perhaps it will do better overseas, where ironically their popular cultures are more comfortable with abortion, yet have much stricter laws on abortion than we have.
That’s a good point, Chris. The ‘borts are always talking about how lower abortion rates are in their beloved socialist democracies, forgetting that (except perhaps in the U.K, where it seems like its a free for all) there are such horrible things as gestational limits and waiting periods.
Abortion enthusiasts are losing control of the narrative. First it’s a “War on Women,” and now it’s material for the Comedy Club.
This is what can happen when you take facts and spin them; sometimes, the results can look pretty funny until you take a closer look and see what people are laughing at. Then you have to wonder at the sanity of those who are laughing so hard.
The reality is this movie is trying to make it look like women who get abortions are shallow and superficial. This is an insult to women who have gone through the procedure. The bomb at the box office reveals just how women who have had abortions really feel about their experience.
People who have actually witnessed abortions don’t find anything in the experience to laugh about.
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/01/30/reporters-who-watch-abortions-tell-of-their-brutal-reality/
Ironically, romantic comedies about abortion are actually horror films about shallow and superficial women. Like the women in horror movies who take the flashlight and go into the basement when they hear a noise down there.
When Hollywood tries to put a Happy Face on abortion, you know the Powers That Be are getting desperate.
I’m thinking of the 1989 film, War of the Roses, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. It was a darkly romantic comedy about divorce. A “divorce rom/com.”
It was very successful and memorable. The divorce was a tragic battle to the death. But there was a feel-good ending: The tale of the bitter divorce lives on to save and encourage many other marriages.
If Obvious Child had owned a bit of honest tragedy, it could have been successful. If Planned Parenthood had found something to object to, we could have had a movie. But no…. Jenny Slate’s character wants an abortion. Every character she talks to encourages her to do the abortion. So she kills her child and lives happily every after. THE END of comedy… aborted before it breathed life in the theaters.
Jennie who?
It’s amazing the mind-bending these pro-aborts can do to keep themselves in denial.
Duh, what’s the title again?
Im sorry but shes not a very memorable type of actress such as Halle Berry or Julia Roberts. I dont think Hollywood is breaking down many doors to get to her. Add Obvious Flop to your credits and youre career is dead in the water. Select or CHOOSE a better role next time….if there ever is a next time.
I am by no means a Jennifer Aniston fan but shes an A list actress who has had tons of movies that have been flopping. Thats Show biz….get over it.