Latest news with #Lainy
STV News
12-06-2025
- STV News
Youth workers call for urgent action ahead of knife crime summit
The head of a Glasgow community group says the city must take a new approach to youth violence or risk more lives being lost. Speaking ahead of a knife crime summit at Holyrood on Thursday, Lainy Bedingfield told STV News that 'nobody can do this on their own' and called for a multi-pronged effort to reduce violent crime. Lainy manages Kingsway Community Connections in Knightswood, which she says was plunged 'into crisis response mode' earlier this year following the death of one of its attendees – Amen Teklay, who was fatally stabbed near St George's Cross in March. Two boys aged 14 and 16 have appeared in court charged with murder following the death of 15-year-old Amen in the Maryhill area of Glasgow. 'What happened to Amen has had a ripple effect,' said Lainy. 'Some of the children we work with are just 11 years old. They understood something had happened – something they'll carry with them forever. STV News Lainy Bedingfield. 'Nobody can do this on their own. We're a community development organisation, not just a youth project, but we knew we needed help.' Now Lainy is calling for serious investment and a public health approach to tackling youth violence. She will participate in a roundtable with Glasgow City Council later this month, just days after the Scottish Government hosts its own knife crime summit on Thursday. In the meantime, Kingsway staff continue to support young people as best they can with limited funds. One example is Thursday night football sessions, delivered voluntarily by two staff members, alongside additional support from charity Achieve More Scotland. 'Young people are flocking to us. They want this and that's half the battle,' said Ms Bedingfield. In a bid to find long-term solutions, the team reached out to The Marcus Lipton Centre in Brixton, south London – a community hub that faced its own tragedy in 2019 when a young person was killed on site. Wayne James, who manages youth services at the centre, said: 'No one starts out trying to be an anti-knife crime hub. STV News Wayne James. 'But when tragedy strikes, you adapt. Glasgow was once the model we looked to in London, but now it feels like some of those gains are slipping. We're all facing a resurgence in youth violence, and it's time to call it what it is: a crisis.' Both Wayne and Lainy agree that quick fixes don't work. They say throwing short-term cash at the problem won't build the trusted relationships that protect young people from harm. Jamie O'Neill, a youth worker at Kingsway, said: 'We were advised to simply open our doors to more young people. And it worked – within a week, we had 40 coming through. That's the power of community. But we need support to sustain that.' The parents of a teenage boy who was stabbed in Glasgow have organised a march to raise awareness of knife crime. Kory McCrimmon's family said his life 'will not be in vain' as they urged people to join the Parents Against Knives walk later this month. STV News From left to right: Kory McCrimmon, Amen Teklay and Kayden Moy. The march will set off from Rangers' Ibrox stadium at 1pm on June 22 and those taking part will walk to Celtic Park in the east end. Kory died after he was found seriously injured in Greenfield Park in the east end of Glasgow on May 31 last year. A 14-year-old was last month sentenced to five years detention after admitting culpable homicide. The march also takes place in the wake of Kayden Moy's death. The 16-year-old was was found seriously injured on Irvine beach in North Ayrshire after police were called to the area on May 17. A 14-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys have appeared in court charged with murder following his death. Youth centres like Fuse in Shettleston want to see change. The centre opens six nights a week, offering everything from tyre-changing workshops to gaming and music. But manager Gerry Baldwin says that even in neighbouring areas, there are no youth projects at all. STV News Gerry Baldwin. 'Are we always going to be reactionary?' he asked. 'In places like Greenfield Park, where there was a recent tragedy (referring to Kory's death), there's nothing – no youth work, no outreach. We need a two-pronged approach: drop-ins and proper street work. That's how we prevent harm before police even get involved.' Across both Glasgow and London, the influence of social media is becoming a growing concern. Staff describe group chats involving hundreds of young people, where arguments and threats can escalate rapidly – often without schools or adults ever knowing. Sunnie Ighoe, who works with vulnerable teens at the Marcus Lipton Centre in Brixton, said: 'What used to be minor issues are now amplified ten or 20 times because of social media. The strategies we used even five years ago aren't enough. We have to adapt.' Jamie from Kingsway agrees. 'We're seeing extreme violence being normalised through screens,' he said. 'Kids as young as nine are filming fights. If adults don't step in and offer guidance, young people are only going to learn from each other – and that's dangerous.' Despite the challenges, Lainy and her team are determined to keep pushing for change. A trip to Brixton is on the cards, but for now, she's focused on the conversations happening here in Scotland. 'I don't feel like I'm shouting into a void – people are listening,' she said. 'But we need more than parachute projects. We need real, rooted work that gives young people the chance to become the best versions of themselves. That's the only way we stop this cycle.' Thursday's summit is expected to focus on actions through education and community engagement with young people at risk of violence. Justice secretary Angela Constance said: 'It's important to be clear that Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or those young people who are considering carrying a weapon. There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime, will face the consequences. 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence.' Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton spent almost 20 years as a youth worker, helping disengaged young people get their lives back on track. He said: 'That experience taught me that no child is inherently bad. Most of the time, they are just in need of some direction, a need that has only been fuelled by the isolating impact of lockdown. 'That's where youth work comes in: it provides young people with the direction they need and gives them a positive adult role model who is neither a teacher nor a parent. 'It teaches teenagers to come out of their comfort zone, helps them rebuild their sense of self-worth and fosters a whole host of key life skills.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Buzz Feed
18-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
28 Affordable Ulta Beauty Products That Deliver Results
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Good Molecules Yerba Mate eye gel wakes up under eyes with a healthy dose of caffeine and antioxidants to help reduce puffiness, not to mention assisting in hydrating and firming up delicate skin with hyaluronic acid. For something that costs as much as a fancy coffee but lasts a lot longer (a pea-size amount is all you need!), we know which one we're investing in to make us appear more alert in the mornings. Living Proof Instant De-Frizzer spray reduces up to 92% of frizz (!!!) so all you have to do to tackle bedhead is give your hair a nice ~spritz~ and simply comb the product through. It also softens your hair between washes and provides UV protection, all with a lightweight and wearable formula. To put it lightly, not all heroes wear capes. Aquaphor's Healing Stick packs natural skin healers like avocado oil and shea butter into one mess-free applicator with multitasking benefits, one that yours truly is actively using to hydrate dry patches and smooth skin creases. But that's not all this wonder balm can do: Glide it over skin to prevent chafing and irritation — or toss it in your bag to shield against windburn on the go. To prevent under-eye dryness throughout the day, the Aquaphor Healing Balm is my MVP. I use it as a priming base for either my tinted eye cream (when I'm going for a no-makeup day) or under my concealer. It gives my skin an instant glow and locks in moisture; it appears to blur lines better than if I were to go without it. I have noticed that my makeup doesn't crease as much when I use it, which is obviously a bonus, but I wouldn't say that it completely prevents cakey-ness. I'm always kicking myself if I forget to apply it, as my skin is noticeably less hydrated, so this will continue to be a mainstay in my reviews: "I'm on my third tube and just ordered another. This is great for lips and dry patches on the face. I also use this as a primer for my concealer. Great product!!" —Lainy"I rub this on my neck and wrists before applying perfume. Makes my fragrance last ALL DAY and project." —MsandyPrice: $12.99 Nyx Professional Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner produces precise, sharp, and downright majestic cat eyes with its long-wear, waterproof formula. Invented with a fine felt tip that's user-friendly, it's perfect for newbs and pros alike who are looking to enhance their eye shape with a bold or subtle look that'll last. Promising review: "This Waterproof Epic Ink Liner is so cute and so vibrant. The felt tip helps the product apply on soooo smoothly. This product would be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR FESTIVAL MAKEUP. This product is available in different shades. Also, this product is really affordable, only $10. I will definitely be purchasing this product in different shades." —AlexisPrice: $10 (available in nine shades) E.l.f. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Lip Oil drenches lips in a similar look and feel to costlier alternatives like, say, the Dior Lip Oil — but all for a more attractive price. Cracked lips will now be a thing of the past, thanks to its nonsticky, high-gloss formula that's packed with moisturizing jojoba and avocado oils. Promising review: "This is a really great lip oil! It feels and looks great! It lasts for a long time, too! I love the minty scent too! I would definitely recommend!" —Ulta CustomerPrice: $8 (available in 10 shades) First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant decongests pores with a combination of glycolic and lactic acid. It gently exfoliates and renews rough and bumpy skin with pumice buffing beads that don't cause irritation. Anua Heartleaf + Vitamin E pore-clearing cleansing oil gently cleanses with its lightweight formula but is tough on gunk and heavy-handed on impurities in one go. Reviewers rave about this sebum-reducing hero, noting its ability to yank blackheads out from cheeks and the nose once it emulsifies with water and is massaged into the skin. The result? A clear, glowing complexion that feels soft and soothed with not a lot of effort. L'Oreal Age Perfect Midnight Cream renews cells and repairs the skin's natural barrier while you sleep, with its lightweight, antioxidant-infused moisturizer. Reviewers say they've noticed a visible difference in their skin's texture and fine lines after consistent nightly use. Promising review: "I am on my third jar of this lovely night cream. A jar lasts about 6 weeks with nightly use. It accelerates cell turnover but doesn't beat up my skin's moisture barrier like similar products have in the past. It is weightless but keeps my skin moist and supple through the night. The consistency is pudding-like. The fragrance is pleasant, mild, and fades quickly. I'm most pleased that this product doesn't irritate my very sensitive eyes at all. On especially dry days, I dab a tiny bit extra under my eyes, and it plumps the area nicely. The price is very reasonable for the quantity and quality of the product. The jar is beautiful and can be repurposed to hold small treasures or be recycled." —MamalehPrice: $36.99 Mighty Patch hydrocolloid pimple patches work to absorb pus and shrink zits ~head on~ without you needing to do any extra work (or popping!). Since adult acne is a thing *sigh*, these are great to prevent picking and, according to one of our editors, are an effective treatment to help avoid scarring and hyperpigmentation. Nudestix Nudies Matte Lux All Over Face Blush delivers a buttery-soft, peachy flush that you can use as an eyeshadow, blush, or lipstick. It's designed with a built-in brush, so you can take this vitamin-E-enriched, multitasking marvel on the go for first applications and end-of-day touch-ups. No extra tools or products needed. Promising review: "Blush is not an integral part of my routine, so being able to keep this in my bag to brighten up my cheeks when I need to is great. Obviously purchased it because I can apply it, keep my hands clean, and not have to carry around an additional brush or Beautyblender." —ViPrice: $35 (available in five shades) Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm offers a lightweight curl-enhancing formula that — ta-daaa — gives tresses some oomph without the crunch. Think: frizz control paired with soft definition; best applied to wet, sectioned-off hair that you can wrap and now shape with ease. Promising review: "I hope they never discontinue this!!! I use this generously under my gel on wash days (on very wet hair), and it smooths and softens my coarse, low-porosity hair like a dream! I also love to use this to dry refresh my curls on days 2–4, and it's amazing at smoothing down my frizz! It's so lightweight and I love that it dries down super soft :-)" —KPrice: $28+ (available in two sizes) Londontown Kur Illuminating Nail Concealer coats your nails in an Insta-worthy finish that brightens and neutralizes the look of discoloration. Available in several subtle shades, you can achieve that perfectly chic, no-mani mani in minutes. I mean, Hailey Bieber could never... Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional Super Setter spray secures makeup with a lightweight, waterproof mist that lasts up to 16 hours *with* the added benefit of blurring pores for a satin-soft complexion. I can attest that Benefit's The Porefessional Setting Spray lives up to the hype. It gently mists a light (but totally effective) airbrush quality over my skin that no other setting spray has ever done for me before. It blurs texture and uneven tone to leave my makeup pretty much looking — if you can believe it — flawless. I am, hands down, a true fan and will definitely be keeping this in my beauty arsenal for all makeup application days from here on review: "I love this setting spray. My friend suggested it and now I've been using it for a few years and it is just so good. It keeps makeup intact for hours while also giving me a hydrated feel. It's very lightweight and sometimes I just spray it on throughout the day to make my makeup look more glowy." —IrisPrice: $16 (also available in full size $35) Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil in Black Honey dishes out the viral glossy look in a multipurpose formula that saves you time (and money). Ever dreamed of extending the universally complementary hue beyond your lips? Now you can color match your cheeks with the same wash, giving your skin a naturally-flushed look in a pinch. And don't fret, reviewers note that this dries down and doesn't feel sticky. Promising review: "Didn't know my cheeks needed this. I have never been a big fan of using lip oils in my cheeks, but I tried this and wow, do I love it. It gives me a dewy glow that lasts all day without clogging pores or anything. My cheeks stay on the dry side, and this has been a total game-changer. It has become a must-have for my daily routine." —MelPrice: $27 (available in two shades) La Roche-Posay Face Wash Cleanser gets you your money's worth since reviewers say its foaming technology goes a LONG way (and just look at the size of it!). Plus, its gentle formula works wonders to remove makeup, excess oil, and impurities, all while leaving your precious sensitive skin with its natural layer. This is now a strip-free zone! Promising review: "I've been using this cleanser for about two years now, and it's treated me great. It makes my face feel so smooth, and it does a good job of clearing up my breakouts. I've put several people on to this product, and they seem to like it too. I also feel like the price is unbeatable. I've used CeraVe facial washes and all of that, and none of them really seemed to do anything for my skin except this one." —BigLianPrice: $19.99 Curlsmith Multi-tasking Conditioner upgrades your hair-softening experience with a protein-packed formula that can be used in so many different ways, it's got my head spinning (in the best way possible). Apply it as a rinse-out, deep conditioner, or leave-in treatment to achieve your healthiest-looking, hair-commercial-flipping, frizz-free hair. Blends of babassu, jojoba, and castor oils are there for your hair cuticles — while hemp seed and rice protein offer a plant-based alternative to animal keratin to strengthen review: "I purchased this product because my hair lacked protein. I've used it as a regular conditioner, deep conditioner and leave-in, and it works well for all three! I have 3B/3C hair, and I love using a little bit of it as a leave-in after wash day. It helps my hair remain defined and soft until my next wash." —ChardonnayPrice: $28+ (available in two sizes) Live Tinted Glotion Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 layers beautifully over prepped skin and offers lightweight coverage in a flexible shade that can even out your complexion (while still protecting your skin). You can expect a dewy glow that pairs well under concealer and foundation — or even while flying solo. Live Tinted is a South Asian woman-owned beauty brand founded by beauty blogger and entrepreneur Deepica Mutyala. Her brand is built around diversity and inclusion, with phenomenal multitasking products that address skin concerns like hyperpigmentation. Just peep their top-selling color-correcting Huestick.I have an announcement to make: I've officially found my new holy grail in Live Tinted's Glotion. From the way it layers on top of my skincare to how it blends under my concealer and bronzer, this stuff means business. My skin feels hydrated and protected at the same time, and I've found it makes the perfect lightweight base for when I want to even out my skin tone without heavy makeup. The spout applicator is genius, allowing the product to trickle out easily across the skin. Plus, it rubs in seamlessly — unlike other mineral sunscreens you might have come across that leave behind a texture, cast, or weird-feeling film that pills. This does none of that. Something else I've noticed when I wear this? I receive a ton of compliments on the way my skin looks. So, needless to say, my obsession with this brand review: "I started using mineral sunscreen as my skin has become too sensitive to chemical ones. I tried various mineral sunscreens, and all left some type of white cast, too greasy, too heavy, pills under makeup, but not this one! It leaves a beautiful, glowy finish without looking greasy. It sits well under makeup, so I can't recommend it enough!" —AshPrice: $36 (available in two shades) Peter Thomas Roth Ultimate 5 Solution Eye Cream features five benefits into its whipped, ultra-hydrating formula. Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, ceramides, caffeine — oh my — all of which can help improve skin firmness, dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and dryness if applied twice a day. Promising review: "Extremely effective! I have always been a fan of Peter Thomas Roth, so I tried this eye cream. It outranks every other one I have tried, and I saw a change within a week!" —AudreyPrice: $38 Pür Silky Tint Creamy Multitasking Stick blends and melts into skin with a moisturizing, peptide-rich formula to deliver a sun-kissed glow that begs the question, "Who's that girl?!" Oh, it's just you and your new elevated makeup routine. Using the handy applicator, simply dab it on your lips, across your cheekbones and nose bridge, plus your brow bone for a unified, year-round, influencer-inspired flush. Promising review: "The Pur 'You Go Pearl' multitasking stick is beautiful! The packaging makes it super easy to dispense the product and convenient to take on the go. The pearly color worked really well for my olive undertones. I use two methods for application, the first just my hands — I'll warm the product up on the back of my hand, then apply using my fingers to the high points of my cheeks and nose. The second — If I want to get a more precise application, I'll pick up the product with a brush and apply it to the inner corner of my eyes and brow bone. The product wears well and layers well both under and over powder. I'm interested in trying the more pink shade now! Highly recommend this!" —JasminePrice: $26 (available in six shades) Batiste Dry Shampoo freshens up grease-ridden hair instantly — and as an added bonus, it also creates volume. Pro tip: Spritz this on your roots before bed and let it work the night shift on your oily locks for a serious time-saving solution. Promising review: "I really love this dry shampoo. I have heard of this name brand for such a long time, but I always went with other dry shampoos. I smelled this in the store, and it smells so good, really fresh and light. I'm so glad I decided to buy this because it really gets the job done. It makes my second-day hair look like I washed it that day, and it looks, feels, and smells awesome. I have brown hair, and I also haven't noticed any white residue, which means it is absorbing up all the oil like it's supposed to. For the price and size of the can you get, you can't go wrong with getting this." —JennPrice: $12.49+ (available in two sizes)PS: It was also selected as our low-price point pick for the best dry shampoos. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream perks up the skin's moisture barrier with its 4.5% squalene formula. Composed of a rich yet lightweight moisturizer, this can provide up to 72 hours of soothing hydration that absorbs into the skin without the greasy finish. It's fragrance-free!This is the only moisturizer I trust to take care of dryness and irritation. I have hyper-sensitive, acne-prone skin. Once I apply this, it feels like a breath of fresh air is hitting my face in that it soothes any redness, delivers instant hydration, and doesn't feel greasy. I opt to use this at night as my final step in my routine, and, without fail, I wake up with my skin looking smooth and (still) feeling review: "I have combination skin that is both dry, oily, and sensitive in certain areas on my face. I'm so glad I made the purchase and tried it out. I use this product religiously and have seen so much improvement!" —AchanPrice: $26+ (available in four sizes and also in a refill) Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Heat and UV Protector primes parched locks for initial post-shower styling *and* day two RE-styling. This frizz-fighting, leave-in formula detangles and shields each strand from sun rays and hot air so roots and tips of different thicknesses and textures can all receive a spritz wherever they require extra moisture. Oh! This includes six featherlight oils, including coconut, macadamia, and argania kernel, and can be applied to both damp and dry hair for heat-styling protection or just protection from the drying effects of the sun. Promising review: "I am very picky about hair products, and this is my favorite leave-in conditioner! I have dry, damaged, thinning hair, so it's hard to find products that are very moisturizing but don't make my thinning hair greasy. This is the perfect balance. My hair detangles so easily with just a few sprays, and it protects my hair from heat damage as I blow-dry and straighten my hair. I will also use a little on my dry hair before straightening, and it doesn't weigh my hair down like every leave-in or heat protectant I've used. It smells great too. I tend to spray this into my hands and evenly distribute it through my hair. It truly is one of the best products out there, and trust me, I've tried a lot." —DenisePrice: $34 Winky Lux Flower Balm cleverly changes color with your skin's pH level. Taking the guesswork out of finding the perfect shade to match your complexion? Done, thanks to this rave-worthy lippy that even has a flower living inside of it.👀 Tarte Shape Tape Concealer camouflages dark circles, blemishes, and dark spots for long wear, crease-free coverage that never flakes. Because once this stuff is blended, it sticks to its plan of keeping your makeup looking on point. RoC Vitamin C Brightening Serum for Dark Spots & Uneven Tone supplies the skin with not one, but two benefits: brightening and tightening. This noncomedogenic serum can help improve radiance and minimize dark spots *and* the appearance of fine lines with peptides that assist with the loss of skin elasticity. Promising review: "This is the second time I have purchased this, and I love how it brightens my skin and removes dark areas. I have used other products twice as pricey and never got results like I do with this. Great for sensitive skin, too!" —MkMeLaughPrice: $34.99
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Movie Review: 'Kinda Pregnant' is kinda good
We have by now become accustomed to the lengths some movie characters will go to keep a good comedy lie going. But it's still a special kind of feat when Amy Schumer, playing a baby-mad single woman who fakes a baby bump in 'Kinda Pregnant,' is so desperate to maintain the fiction that she shoves a roast turkey up her dress. You might be thinking: This is too ridiculous. The stuffing, alone. But if we bought 'Some Like it Hot' and 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' I see no reason to quibble with the set-up of 'Kinda Pregnant,' a funny and often perceptive satire on motherhood, both real and pretend. 'Kinda Pregnant,' which debuted Wednesday on Netflix, is a kinda throwback comedy. Like '40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Wedding Crashers,' you can basically get the movie just from its title. But like any good high-concept comedy, 'Kinda Pregnant' is predominantly a far-fetched way for its star and co-writer, Schumer, to riff frankly on her chosen topic. Here, that's the wide gamut of pregnancy experience — the body changes, the gender reveal parties, the personal jealousies — all while mixing in a healthy amount of pseudo-pregnant pratfalls. It's been a decade since Schumer was essentially launched as a movie star in the 2015 Judd Apatow-directed 'Trainwreck.' But 'Kinda Pregnant,' which Schumer wrote with Julie Paiva, almost as adeptly channels Schumer's comic voice — the one that made the sketch series 'Inside Amy Schumer' so great. The movie's opening flashes back to Lainy (Schumer) as a child playing with dolls and imagining herself a mother-to-be. So committed is she to the role that Lainy, in mock-labor, screams at her friend and then politely apologies: 'Sorry, but the expectant mother often lashes out at her support system.' But as middle age approaches, Lainy, a high school teacher in Brooklyn, isn't close to her dream. At the dinner where she suspects — no, is so certain that she tears open the dessert looking for a ring — that her longtime boyfriend (Damon Wayans Jr.) is going to pop the question, he instead asks her to join a threesome. Back at school, Lainy's school lesson on 'Romeo and Juliet' turns darkly cynical. Things are even worse when Lainy's married best friend (Jillian Bell) divulges that she's pregnant. 'Get rid of it!' blurts Lainy before apologizing. When the pair later go clothes shopping, Lainy absentmindedly tries on belly padding. The saleswoman is instantly nice to her, offering a burrito and a foot rub. 'Who's the father?' she asks. 'Doordash,' responds Lainy before adding, 'driver.' Much of the fun in 'Kinda Pregnant' is watching Lainy come up with increasingly ridiculous lies as she tries to pull off the pregnant act. (After accidentally picking Thanksgiving as her time of inception, Lainy digs a deeper hole by suggesting it happened at 'a Black Friday Eve sale.') But the ruse becomes more difficult when she, during a pregnant workout class, meets a woman (Brianne Howey, refreshingly authentic) she genuinely likes and wants to be friends with. Even more complicated: Lainy starts falling for another guy she first meets at a coffee shop ( Will Forte ). In a movie filled with funny people (others include Urzila Carlson as a guidance counselor, and Alex Moffat as a idiotic father-to-be), Forte is an especially good presence in 'Kinda Pregnant.' For a performer of such madcap absurdity, Forte fits in remarkably naturally in a more rom-com setting. He's also got a wonderfully ridiculous occupation, even by rom-com standards, driving a Zamboni in Central Park. You can probably guess how 'Kinda Pregnant' goes from here. Director Tyler Spindel, nephew to Adam Sandler (a producer on the film), doesn't do anything to advance the movie comedy, a languishing proposition in recent years with few big-screen exceptions. But he crucially gives his performers plenty of space to be themselves, and Lainy's desperate desire to have a family comes across as both over-the-top and genuine. If 'Knocked Up' captured the comedy of getting unexpectedly pregnant, 'Kinda Pregnant' embodies the pain of wishing you were. 'Kinda Pregnant,' a Netflix release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for sexual content, language throughout and drug use. Running time: 97 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
New York Times
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Kinda Pregnant' Review: The Belly of the Beast
If the aftermath of the pandemic saw a number of horror movies about the miseries of maternity, another subgenre is making a comeback: the pregnancy comedy. Like 'Babes' before it, Tyler Spindel's 'Kinda Pregnant' (on Netflix) takes childbearing, rearing and regretting and spins them into a romp. Starring a feral Amy Schumer, this clunker of a movie opens with a first act that appears filched from 'Legally Blonde': a marriage proposal that isn't. The romantic letdown — which finds our heroine, Lainy (Schumer), shrieking in Spanx in public — coincides with the pregnancy of her bestie, Kate (Jillian Bell). What's left for a gal to do other than don a silicone belly in envy? The potential of this bizarre prenatal cosplay for blows — and burns, and a stab wound — to Lainy's fake stomach does not go overlooked, although the traditional cycle of the seasons seems to have been. Despite tracing Kate's gestation from autumn to spring, the movie's weather and attire are all over the place. Most egregiously, the world of 'Kinda Pregnant' is filled with dopey men and despairing women whose torments, parental or otherwise, make for a land mine of comedy duds. Will Forte, playing a deus ex man-child, does manage to pull off a few funny lines and some real chemistry with Schumer. But this is a movie less interested in relationships than in the sundry items, from a balloon to a rotisserie chicken, that Lainy can stuff under her shirt to fake a baby bump. Kinda PregnantRated R for foul language and rotisserie chicken gags. Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes. Watch on Netflix.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Kinda Pregnant' Review: Amy Schumer's Fake Pregnancy Rom-Com Is Kinda Bad
For thousands of years, it's been believed that laughter is the best medicine. Unfortunately, it appears that the laughs in the new Netflix comedy 'Kinda Pregnant' have been recalled. What's worse, the side effects include irritation, drowsiness and a very dull headache. 'Kinda Pregnant' stars Amy Schumer, who co-wrote the screenplay, as Lainy Newton. She's a middle-aged schoolteacher who always dreamed of settling down and being a mother. She also sleeps on a futon with some kind of magical spring system that sends her flying across her apartment, which happens often enough (allegedly — we only see it the once) that she has to keep a pile of pillows in the landing zone. Believe it or not, this futon will be important later, although not for the right reasons. Lainy thinks her boyfriend Dave (Damon Wayans Jr.) is about to propose, but it's the beginning of a romantic comedy, so it's all a misunderstanding and now she's incredibly alone and wallowing in despair. We can tell she's been disillusioned because she used to tell her students that 'Romeo & Juliet' was a beautiful love story, and now she tells them it's a tragedy about horny young lovers making bad mistakes (she doesn't seem to be a very good English teacher). Lainy is miserable, but her best friend Kate (Jillian Bell) is married and pregnant. Lainy should be happy for her but she can't muster those emotions. Instead, Lainy obsesses and festers, until finally she tries on a fake pregnancy belly and realizes that everyone treats her better. So she keeps wearing it, which makes a new friendship with the actually-pregnant Megan (Brianne Howey) — and Lainy's blossoming romance with Megan's affable-yet-romantically-wounded brother, Josh (Will Forte) — very complicated because, you know, it's all built on lies. 'Kinda Pregnant' is not the first comedy, romantic or otherwise, to rely on contrived deceptions for humor or tension. Sadly, it's also not one of the better ones. While watching this weirdly lifeless and depressing trifle, which barely ekes out a chuckle every 20 minutes or so, one can't help but wonder why 'Kinda Pregnant' isn't working. It's certainly not the cast. They've been funny before and they'll probably be funny again. Heck, Schumer and Forte have real, heartwarming chemistry together. A movie about their two characters falling in love, without any high-or-low concept at all, could have been disarming and satisfying on its own. No, the problem with 'Kinda Pregnant' is that Lainy's deception requires a motivation, even in a contrived storyline, and motivation can make or break a comedy. The silliest screwball films can get away with a weird plot point because their characters exist in a world where weird things often happen. Katharine Hepburn's character in 'Bringing Up Baby' adopts a leopard because she's the kind of person who'd adopt a leopard. Screwball comedies can also justify a deception through unlikely circumstances. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis dress as women in 'Some Like It Hot' because they witnessed a murder and had to come up with disguises (Lemmon's character also seems to realize — at least, as much as any character in a production code comedy could — that they're trans, which makes the story extra sweet and inspiring). Lainy's deception isn't motivated by whimsy or plot, it's motivated by misery. 'Kinda Pregnant' deserves credit for trying to find some humanity inside a formulaic rom-com, but it goes so far into Lainy's tragic headspace that her deception and subsequent shenanigans aren't enjoyable, or funny. They're cries for help. She's not Katharine Hepburn in 'Bringing Up Baby' or Jack Lemmon (or Tony Curtis) in 'Some Like It Hot.' She's Edward Norton in 'Fight Club' — and that's just not the same vibe. Of course, if a film doesn't work as a wacky comedy, we must also consider whether maybe it's supposed to be a wacky comedy at all. Maybe we're supposed to view this story through a very different lens. Clea DuVall's 'Happiest Season' was only superficially a rom-com, for example: Its old-fashioned and contrived romantic comedy tropes thinly masked an uncomfortably sad tale about how living a lie — in that case, pretending your girlfriend is just a friend because you're uncomfortable coming out to your family — isn't funny. 'Happiest Season' is not a failed rom-com, it's a subversive and incisive dark comedy that pulls apart the innards of a rom-com and reveals its uncomfortable findings. Hey, remember the futon I mentioned earlier? I told you it'd be important later, but I meant it was important to this review, not to 'Kinda Pregnant's' plot. Director Tyler Spindel ('The Out-Laws') dumps that moment, the dopiest kind of slapstick into the film's first few minutes, which sets the stage for yuck-yucks. We are reminded, every few scenes, that we're supposed to be enjoying superficial comedic hijinks like pratfalls and embarrassing sex, which undermines the serious dramatic undertones of Julie Paiva and Schumer's screenplay — which in turn makes those hijinks a lot less funny. There are multiple scenes of Amy Schumer in slapstick situations that would seriously endanger the life of her (alleged) baby. That can work if the tone is absurd, but 'Kinda Pregnant' is just serious enough that the horrified reactions of Schumer's onlookers register and Schumer's personal embarrassment doesn't. Then there's another scene where a small child intentionally stabs a (supposedly) pregnant woman in the stomach with a knife, and the audience is somehow supposed to think it's hilarious instead of profoundly terrifying on multiple levels. That kid isn't a laugh riot. That kid is a potential serial killer. There's a decent rom-com hidden beneath 'Kinda Pregnant's' tonal calamities, and a decent tragedy hidden behind all the desperate buffoonery. But the film's best qualities are hidden far, far too well. Except, that is, for Will Forte's lovely sad sack boyfriend, who — as a character and as an actor — kinda deserves a better romance than this. 'Kinda Pregnant' is now streaming on Netflix. The post 'Kinda Pregnant' Review: Amy Schumer's Fake Pregnancy Rom-Com Is Kinda Bad appeared first on TheWrap.
