Premature

Writer and Director: Kevin Walls

The premise for Premature, written and directed by Kevin Walls, is hardly new. Twenty years ago Knocked Up explored the comic potential of a mismatched couple forced together by an unplanned pregnancy. But whereas Knocked Up featured a glamorous television presenter linked to a dead-loss stoner Premature involves a more realistic couple who could be any member of the audience.

Having accepted her artistic aspirations are not feasible and quit Art College Eilidh (Elle Watson) works as a barista. An impulsive one-night stand with her roommate Cameron (James Rottger) results in Eilidh becoming pregnant. Over-qualified for the thankless job in which he is employed and currently interviewing for his dream job; Cameron is relieved when Eilidh indicates she will not be going through with the pregnancy. However, when Eilidh changes her mind both of them are forced to re-think past life choices and ponder if they are capable of becoming parents and, as a secondary consideration, of forming a relationship.

Premature runs ninety minutes and squeezes a lot into the relatively brief running time. As a result some plot points get less consideration than others; a third roommate seems unnecessary although his reluctant exit from the shared apartment does provide an excellent verbal gag.

Writer/director Kevin Walls’s view of pregnancy, and indeed, relationships, is realistically ramshackle rather than idealised and romantic. The title Premature could be taken as a description of a couple rushed into a situation for which they are woefully ill-prepared.  Humour is drawn from Eilidh cursing and swearing as she goes into labour but sex is barely mentioned; the couple spend more time buying clothes and equipment for the baby.

The relationship between the couple emerges in a haphazard manner. The topic is not even discussed until Eilidh asks if they will be buddies forever or something more. Faced with a choice between his career and his potential family Cameron reminds Eilidh he has been planning his career for years whilst a relationship was not even a consideration until a few days ago.

All aspects of pregnancy are explored with the couple debating whether the man or the woman is responsible for planning contraception and Cameron becoming overwhelmed by the possibility he might be the father of twins. The never-ending anxiety of pregnancy is illustrated when a passionate embrace is cut short as Cameron notices Eilidh is bleeding signalling a possible miscarriage.

The impact of pregnancy upon rational decision-making is depicted in a highly unusual manner. Having been gazumped when trying to buy a second-hand cot online Eilidh decides the logical action is to don disguises, break into the home of the new buyer and steal the cot. When she becomes upset that such bizarre actions demonstrate she will be a poor mother she is comforted by Cameron’s observation that, to the contrary, they prove the extremes to which she will go for her child.

Generally the humour is low-key and observational. Cameron is mortified Eilidh forgetting to take the morning after pill could be interpreted as their one-night stand being unmemorable. Elle Watson and James Rottger play down any possible glamour. Of the two the career-minded Cameron is the more scrupulous about his clothes whilst Eilidh never wears make-up and only dresses up when they get around to going on a much-belated first date.

The brief running time sometimes necessitates points being stated bluntly. To demonstrate the point ‘life-is-what-happens-when-you’re-making-other-plans’ Cameron’s father speaks of how his planned happy retirement was destroyed by his wife’s early passing. The dramatic reversals made by Cameron and Eilidh to their past decisions on how to live their lives are so rapid as to seem a bit contrived. It would, however, take a very hard heart to resist the cute, but decidedly effective, way in which the reluctant lovers are shown re-uniting.

The warts and all approach taken in Premature makes for a refreshingly authentic, rather than overly glossy, romantic comedy and the convincingly flawed but likable characters ensure audience attention is held.

Premature is released in cinemas on 18 September.