Film Watch: Obvious Child, the Abortion Rom Com

Yes, Obvious Child is the love store of two young people who find each other, have sex with each other, and find each other again after Slate's character, Donna, discovers that she's pregnant and decides to get an abortion. And yes, I can't wait to see it.

I know that abortion is a hot topic. Everyone has an opinion on whether or not it should be legal and socially/morally acceptable. I believe that abortions should be safe and legally attainable. I wont get into the nitty-gritty of my beliefs here beyond that (if you want to ask, feel free to leave a comment).

Regardless of your political stance on the subject, I think we can (or should) all agree that honesty is the best policy, and the main reason why I'm so excited to see Obvious Child is that it is a REALISTIC depiction of a woman in Donna's situation.

We all know that films and television are paradigms of realism, but the lies that are perpetrated by fiction seem to reinforce the false choices that women in Donna's situation face. The film was informed by real-life statistics and Planned Parenthood advised on the script.

Films that portray women who are faced with an unexpected pregnancy putting the baby up for adoption. According to Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, 9% of fictional characters place their baby up for adoption, where only 1% of real women do the same. Films also portray abortion clinics as unclean, unsafe, and terrifying places (a reality that will only come to fruition if abortion is made illegal and procedures become unregulated), and abortions as incredibly painful experiences. Real life does not work in absolutes. On average, abortions take about 20 minutes, and the pain that follows is a dull ache, similar to menstrual cramps.

Other fallacies that this film tackles? That abortions are expensive, dangerous procedures that you will immediately regret. Abortions are, statistically speaking, safer than having a baby when it comes to the woman's health. Abortions are not cost-prohibitive, not dangerous, and the only decisions you'll regret are ones you haven't thought through.

Regardless of what side of this debate you are on, what we need is more honest information and facts, and it looks like Obvious Child will deliver on that front, along with wit, charm, and romance.