Search - Junior on DVD

Charming & Funny? Inconceivable!

David Montgomery | davidjmontgomery.com | 06/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Arnold Schwarzenegger is probably my favorite movie star. For my money, there is no greater action hero. I think I enjoy him even more, though, in his lighter, more comedic movies. Take "Junior," for example. It is one of the most charming, delightful and funny films I've seen in a long time. Arnold proves once again that he is as comfortable and self-assured in high concept comedy as he is in high octane action. This film is a real winner.Schwarzenegger stars as Dr. Alex Hesse, a biochemist doing research on a revolutionary new wonder drug that eliminates miscarriages. Helping him to develop "Expectane" is Dr. Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito), an obstetrician and fertility doctor. Their project is jeopardized, though, when the FDA refuses to give them approval. The university cuts off their funding, kicks them out and turns their lab over to Dr. Diana Reddin (Emma Thompson).Fearing the loss of a potential fortune, Arbogast convinces Alex to test the drug on himself. They implant a fertilized egg in Alex's stomach and he starts taking Expectane, along with huge doses of female hormones. Those hormones set-up most of the comedy in the film, along with some of its better moments.Alex gradually starts to take on the "typical" traits of a pregnant woman. He has mood swings, desires for strange food, soft skin and tender nipples. Watching Arnold play these scenes is part of what makes this film so enjoyable. The hormones don't keep him from falling in love, though. Alex's romance with the shy, awkward Dr. Reddin is both cute and funny.The casting is probably the best thing about "Junior." It's hard to imagine any other actor pulling this off. As in "Twins" and "Kindergarten Cop," Schwarzenegger plays against his macho image, getting both laughs and smiles by showing us his kinder, gentler side. As a performer, he just keeps getting better and better.It should come as no surprise that Ivan Reitman, the director of those two earlier Schwarzenegger films, was at the helm of "Junior." His steady, unobtrusive touch is just what is needed for both the laughs and the more poignant moments in the story. Coming on the heels of his previous film "Dave," Reitman is emerging as the top director of light comedy in the business. The screenplay by Kevin Wade and Chris Conrad is quite good, with just the right mix of funny and serious moments.Emma Thompson sets aside the staid, upper class image that serves her so well in Merchant-Ivory productions, and returns to her comedic roots, turning in a terrific performance that hits all the right notes. DeVito's character is not a new one for him, but he plays it excellently all the same."Junior" is a wonderful film for the whole family. Younger kids might be a little bored by it, but older ones-along with their parents-will find plenty to enjoy."

Lots of Laughs

Christina Lowell | Midland,MI,USA | 11/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At first I really didn't want to see this movie but was forced into it,much like Alex Hesse (schwarzenegger) was talked into doing an illegal scientific experiment on himself by his collegue Larry Arbogast (DeVito).Alex has invented a wonderful new drug to help women who tend to have miscarriages.After the FDA won't approve expectane and the university kicks him out of their lab Alex decides to move back to europe.Larry talks him into doing an experiment on himself so that they can get funding for more research.And after they get enough data they'll end it and noone will ever know.But the problem is Alex gets attatched to his unborn baby and continues taking the expectane without Larry knowing,of course he eventually does find out and aggrees to help him.Along the way though Alex falls in love with Dr. Diana Reddin (Thompson) and she has a key role in the movie so pay attention in the resturant scene.I don't understand why so many people didn't enjoy this film.Maybe it's because they have no sense of what a good movie really is.I recomend this movie because it's heartwarming,sweet,and it's just plain funny to see Arnold have morning sickness."

A strange but VERY hilarious comedy

retrowens | Alabama, USA | 09/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To say the least, "Junior" proposes a VERY original and hilarious concept, and that is of a man being literally pregnant. Dr. Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito) talks Dr. Alex Hesse (Arnold Schwarzenegger) into going through a secret experiment in which he will be injected with something that will make him pregnant, even though he's a man. However, things go haywire when Dr. Hesse actually decides to go all the way with actually having the baby.I don't know about everybody else, but the concept of a man having a baby in itself was beyond hilarious to me at first. Since Danny DeVito is one of the main stars, I knew the movie had a great chance of being an effective comedy. To say the least, "Junior" IS hilarious. When you see Arnold Scwarzenegger pregnant and performing some of the antics such as pretending to be a woman and trying to hide the fact that he's pregnant, if you have a sense of humor, then I guarantee that you will bust out laughing!If you like comedy movies, especially ones that are entirely original, you've gotta at least rent "Junior." But I recommend for all comedy fans to purchase the movie because it's more than worth it!!"

Ivan Reitman's study of inversion

kunsunoke | S. E. PA | 11/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Without question, an under-rated, subversive, classic farce, and a study of total inversion. Examples of the latter include Arnold - the Last Action Hero becomes a sensitive "Mommy"?Danny DeVito - usually plays the heavy; now plays the major sympathetic role in the movieEmma Thompson - takes a break from the Shakespeare in favor of physical comedyAs many other reviewers have stated, this movie is also a realistic and side-splitting look at pregnancy. The subversion is its underlying pro-life theme: "My body, my choice", inverted. This is so politically incorrect that I often wonder how Reitman got away with it.To the Aussies who reviewed this a while back: What the hell were you expecting? A Predator sequel, maybe? Yeah, I remember when I had my first beer....."