'Life As We Know It' stars Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel in roles they have played numerous times before. Romantic dramedy about two unlikely parents. With Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel. Director: Greg Berlanti (1:55). PG-13: language, sexuality, drugs. At area theaters.
You won't find a more aptly titled movie than "Life as We Know It," which veers not an inch off Hollywood's well-worn rom-com path. We've met Katherine Heigl's tightly wound character countless times before. We're all familiar with the aging frat boy played by Josh Duhamel. And we can predict exactly when, why and how they'll connect because by now, we know this story inside out.
As she proved in "27 Dresses," Heigl can be enjoyable to watch. But for reasons that presumably remain between her and her therapist, she prefers to portray rigid, high-strung women no one wants to be around.
Certainly that's true of Eric Messer (Duhamel), a committed bachelor well into his 30s. Years ago, Eric and Holly (Heigl) went on a miserable blind date arranged by their friend Alison (Christina Hendricks, wasted in this role).
Despite this disastrous experience, Alison secretly chose these sworn enemies as guardians for her baby, Sophie (Alexis, Brynn, and Brooke Clagett). If you're wondering why, you're already too cynical for the movie. And you certainly won't appreciate the rest of this misjudged scenario, in which Alison and her husband are swiftly killed off in a car accident.
When little Sophie is orphaned, Eric and Holly are stunned to learn they have to raise her together. We, however, can guess immediately how this arrangement works out, through stages one (fighting about diaper changes), two (bonding over sleep deprivation) and three (will they? won't they?).
The supporting cast tries hard to create some fun, with Melissa McCarthy especially amusing as a nosy neighbor. And Josh Lucas is appealing as Sophie's cute pediatrician. But films like this are really about the highly paid leads, two impossibly attractive actors mimicking real life.
Unfortunately, it's hard to generate chemistry when you don't remotely resemble an actual human being. Duhamel ambles through his clichéd role, and though Heigl attempts to add some dimension, the assembly line script gives her little room to breathe.
On the other hand, the sisters who play Sophie are adorable. And if you happen to be a sleep-deprived parent yourself, there are worse ways to catch a two-hour nap.
eweitzman@nydailynews.com
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