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Maybe Baby (film)

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For the hit single of 1958 by Buddy Holly & the Crickets, see Maybe Baby (song). For the film of 1988 released internationally as Maybe Baby, see For Keeps (film).

Maybe Baby
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBen Elton
Written byBen Elton
Produced byPhil McIntyre
StarringHugh Laurie
Joely Richardson
Adrian Lester
James Purefoy
Tom Hollander
Joanna Lumley
Rowan Atkinson
Emma Thompson
Dawn French
CinematographyRoger Lanser
Edited byPeter Hollywood
Music byColin Towns
Production
companies
Pandora
BBC Films
Distributed byRedbus Film Distribution
Release date
  • 2 June 2000 (2000-06-02) (United Kingdom)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$20,501 (USA)

Maybe Baby (released in the Philippines as Sex Bomb)[1] is a 2000 British comedy film starring Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson. It was written and directed by Ben Elton, with Laurie directing some scenes in an uncredited role, and based upon Elton's 1999 novel, Inconceivable. A critical failure, the film did poorly at the box office, despite a cast including many of the best-known names within comedy in Britain.

Plot

Sam Bell (Hugh Laurie) and his wife Lucy (Joely Richardson) are struggling for a baby, having tried everything they can think of to improve their chances of conceiving. At the same time, Sam begins to find his job (as a commissioning editor of drama at the BBC) increasingly unfulfilling. While he resolves to write his own screenplay, he begins to suffer writer's block.

The idea dawns upon him to write about his own predicament, something to which Lucy objects strongly. He uses her diary entries to help him achieve authenticity, and the film is a success. Lucy finds out about the film and, shocked, leaves Sam. Eventually they reconcile, and at the end of the story are still trying for a baby.

It marks the second time Laurie and Richardson have starred in the same film; the first was 101 Dalmatians (although in that film they shared no scenes).

Cast

Soundtrack

The title song "Maybe Baby" is performed by Paul McCartney and co-produced by McCartney and Jeff Lynne. "I Don't Wanna Fight", a song from Westlife's self-titled debut album, is played in the last part of the movie. Melanie C's song "Suddenly Monday" also appears on the soundtrack, alongside tracks by Roxy Music, Lene Marlin, Atomic Kitten, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, George Michael and Madness.[citation needed]

Laurie co-wrote and performed the humorous blues song "Sperm Test in the Morning".[citation needed]

Release

Maybe Baby was released in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2000 on 290 screens.[2] In the Philippines, the film was released as Sex Bomb on September 20, 2000.[1]

Reception

Rotten Tomatoes reported a 46% approval rating, with an average rating of 5.1/10 based on 28 reviews.[3] Metacritic calculated an average score of 46 out of 100 based on 11 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[4]

It opened at number 3 in the United Kingdom with a gross of £801,542 in its opening weekend, behind Gladiator and Final Destination.[2][5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Laugh All You Can Today at Theaters Everywhere". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. 20 September 2000. p. B15. Retrieved 3 February 2023. Mr. Bean is back!
  2. ^ a b Scott, Mary (9 June 2000). "Virile comedy lifts limp UK performance". Screen International. p. 23.
  3. ^ "Maybe Baby (2000)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Maybe Baby Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Weekend box office 2nd June 2000 - 4th June 2000". www.25thframe.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2017.


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