At some point in our lives, we've all told a lie that led to either an embarrassing revelation or a lingering sense of regret. Amy Schumer’s latest Netflix comedy, Kinda Pregnant, taps into this relatable experience. In Kinda Pregnant, Lainy (Schumer) fakes a pregnancy, complete with a baby bump, and unexpectedly meets the love of her life. As she scrambles to maintain the facade, chaos ensues. While the film has a promising premise, its execution feels predictable and falls short of delivering consistent laughs.

Cast: Amy Schumer, Will Forte, Jillian Bell, Brianne Howey

Director: Tyler Spindel

Rating: 2/5

Director Tyler Spindel carefully constructs Lainy’s world, making her decision to fake a pregnancy justifiable. Through a small scene, we learn that both Lainy and her best friend Kate (Jillian Bell) lost their mothers at a young age, fuelling their deep-seated longing for family. Adding to Lainy’s emotional turmoil, her long-term partner has no intention of settling down. Spindel takes time to lay this foundation before introducing the central conflict—a choice that initially works in the film’s favour.

However, the extensive world-building takes up much of the runtime, leaving little room for the romance between Lainy and Josh (Will Forte) to develop organically. While their meet-cute establishes that they have a lot in common, shared interests alone don’t necessarily justify an instant, deep connection. The film fails to show us why Lainy and Josh are truly meant for each other beyond surface-level compatibility. By their third meeting, they have already decided they are soulmates, making their relationship feel rushed and unconvincing. As a result, we struggle to genuinely root for their union, even though the film makes it clear from the outset that their happy ending is inevitable.

Comedies often ask audiences to overlook logical inconsistencies, but Kinda Pregnant pushes the suspension of disbelief to an extreme level. Lainy repeatedly endures outlandish situations—falling flat on her fake baby bump, setting it on fire, and crashing into a wall—all in plain sight, yet Josh or others do not seem to suspect a thing. While these moments are framed with exaggerated visuals and playful background music to heighten the humour, it eventually becomes impossible to ignore the implausibility. Adding to the absurdity, Lainy’s baby bump inexplicably changes size from scene to scene—a deliberate choice for comedic effect that becomes illogical rather than funny. As these gags pile up, the film begins to feel more frustrating than entertaining. What might have seemed amusing on paper translates into over-the-top, cringe-worthy moments that fail to land.

The predictability extends to its ending, offering no surprises or emotional payoff. What could have been a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud comedy about identity, love, and self-worth instead labours through familiar rom-com tropes without delivering anything fresh. The film overstretches its premise, much like Lainy's ever-changing baby bump, and ultimately struggles to give birth to genuine humour.