The Wonder Weeks

The Dutch aren't famous for their acting, so I wasn't expecting much there. My main issue with this series however is the writing. First of all this was clearly written by a man or by men, and not the progressive, egalitarian kind but the old fashioned, unengaged and oblivious type. I don't even need to look it up to know this, and I'll tell you why: the ridiculous portrayal of the lesbian couple. In fact, these two are not portrayed as a couple but as one might imagine two sexy cohabiting acquaintances. They have two children and a third on the way, donored by a family friend, who sits with them at the table at the start of the film to tell them he wants a more significant role in the childrens' lives. In fact, he wants a major fatherly role and for them to call him "dad". They discuss all this with the kids present - who don't know he's the donor! - at which the eldest daughter exclaims: 'What? You're my DAD?' One of the moms seems a little wary at their donor's demands but the other one says (with their donor friend STILL AT THE TABLE) that they should give it a try, like, why not? No need to discuss this privately as a couple. They immediately suit action to word: Sleepovers, "dad" calling, the whole shebang. Kids overjoyed, of course! Dear male writer(s). Just imagine these lesbians were a hetero couple who, because of circumstances, used donor sperm or donor eggs to have children. Now fathom the same situation. The sperm or egg donor sits at the table, suddenly insisting to "be" the father or mother, with a significant role, and wanting to be called "dad" or "mum". And the hetero couple deciding then and there, without needing to discuss this privately, to give it a try (like, why not)? And discussing this so carelessly that an unknowing child listens in: 'Whaaaat? Are you my dad/mum?" Yeah, I know. You can't imagine that happening, can you? Well guess what: it would never happen with two lesbians either because lesbians are not cohabiting acquaintances, see? Anyway. I could've forgiven this major faux pas if the rest of it at least was enjoyable. But except for the first 30 seconds, it's not. How such terrible writer(s) find people willing to sponsor such infantile cr#p is beyond me, and quite worrying.

I am desperate for Dutch language content on Netflix, I watch pretty much anything that they will stream. This review is based on watching this film in its original Dutch language with English subtitles. The film follows three new mothers...Anne a professional lawyer who is working towards making partner in her law firm and has her baby at home in the tub via a midwife and her husband Barry, Roos who together with her lesbian partner Kim use her best friend Kaj as the sperm donor for their third pregnancy after delivering a healthy baby boy named Teo...Kaj would like to play a more active role in his kids life with them staying over and calling him "Dad", and then there is Ilse who just had her first child with her Moroccan boyfriend...she is struggling with mastitis making it so she can't breastfeed her son and as her boyfriend's big Moroccan family descend on them with incorporating all of their cultural traditions into the raising of her son like the circumcision and the sacrificing of a sheep! This is a comedy and it deals with a lot of the new parenting struggles...but there are also some individual storylines with underlying sadness running through them Anne, Kaj and Ilse have some very serious issues that they are dealing with. I think new moms who want to have a lighthearted laugh may enjoy this film, I didn't have a lot that I personally related to...but it was colorful, with a decent wardrobe and good sets. My Dutch language practice time was enhanced by watching it...so thank you, Netflix, please stream more Dutch language content.

Yes I mean the adults and not the kids - although I reckon kids are silly anyway, right? Well whatever the case, no pun intended. It is imperative to know that the movie is really on the silly side when it comes to humor and there is not much that ... well I would call real or reality. The people are acting in weird ways - which works for the movie. If you are in the mood (for love, but even more so: humor and laughing). Again: I would not call this really good or whatever, but I would not call it bad either. It works for what it is - parents nowadays trying to find out where they belong and how to manage. If I think about it, parents always struggled. Maybe previous generations seemed and looked confident enough that we never assumed they had issues of their own ... but no one has everything figured out ... so if you don't mind that this goes low comedy wise ... well there are worse things out there ... I doubt it will destroy anyones relationship ...

The Dutch aren't famous for their acting, so I wasn't expecting much there. My main issue with this series however is the writing. First of all this was clearly written by a man or by men, and not the progressive, egalitarian kind but the old fashioned, unengaged and oblivious type. I don't even need to look it up to know this, and I'll tell you why: the ridiculous portrayal of the lesbian couple. In fact, these two are not portrayed as a couple but as one might imagine two sexy cohabiting acquaintances. They have two children and a third on the way, donored by a family friend, who sits with them at the table at the start of the film to tell them he wants a more significant role in the childrens' lives. In fact, he wants a major fatherly role and for them to call him "dad". They discuss all this with the kids present - who don't know he's the donor! - at which the eldest daughter exclaims: 'What? You're my DAD?' One of the moms seems a little wary at their donor's demands but the other one says (with their donor friend STILL AT THE TABLE) that they should give it a try, like, why not? No need to discuss this privately as a couple. They immediately suit action to word: Sleepovers, "dad" calling, the whole shebang. Kids overjoyed, of course! Dear male writer(s). Just imagine these lesbians were a hetero couple who, because of circumstances, used donor sperm or donor eggs to have children. Now fathom the same situation. The sperm or egg donor sits at the table, suddenly insisting to "be" the father or mother, with a significant role, and wanting to be called "dad" or "mum". And the hetero couple deciding then and there, without needing to discuss this privately, to give it a try (like, why not)? And discussing this so carelessly that an unknowing child listens in: 'Whaaaat? Are you my dad/mum?" Yeah, I know. You can't imagine that happening, can you? Well guess what: it would never happen with two lesbians either because lesbians are not cohabiting acquaintances, see? Anyway. I could've forgiven this major faux pas if the rest of it at least was enjoyable. But except for the first 30 seconds, it's not. How such terrible writer(s) find people willing to sponsor for such infantile cr#p is beyond me, and quite worrying.

Yet another boring, unnecessary and poorly written Dutch movie. Like so many others the cast consists of mediocre actors or people who aren't even actors to begin with. The mere fact that a person is casted a million times, because of the lack of imagination of casting agencies, doesn't make anyone an actor. Apparently "good" looks will do the trick when you live in the Netherlands. That said, the material they have to work with makes it very hard to succeed whatsoever, so don´t put all the blame on the actors. The dialogues and characters are just awful. Every single scene is predictable. No surprises, no humour, no emotions. Don't even bother - they surely didn't.

As a new dad I thought it would be fun to watch a movie about new parents and their struggles. But wow.. The characters are unsympathetic, unrealistic and filled with cliches. The movie is not about babies but more about three mothers and their lives. One is a stressed lawyer who can't find time for her family, one is in a multi cultural relationship but is unaware about anything regarding the culture and the third is a lesbian who got children with the best friend of her partner. The thing is... None of these women can be taken that serious in their roles... And then we haven't even talked about the men. And if you think things can't be even anymore unbelievable... Believe me. It gets worse. I would definitely not recommend this movie to anyone.