Unpregnant - A Movie Review

This road trip will be unforgettable.

After getting off the road, Unpregnant is a 2020 comedy. 17-year-old high schooler Veronica discovers she is pregnant. Scared of ruining her popular reputation and track record for an Ivy League college, Veronica gets an abortion. She travels with her ex-best friend, Bailey across the country to a facility.

You can always use a hearty comedy, especially with a road trip angle, which is my favorite! Unpregnant surfaces on a topic that has endured fiery debates. This is a funny comedy about friendship and learning to make your own decisions.

Unpregnant stars Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira as Veronica and Bailey. Each actress has branched out in their career, achieving versatile roles. The pair made believable friends who are getting to know each other again.

While I like Richardson and she is a strong actress, she was miscast for 17-year-old Veronica. Granted, Veronica is very mature for her age. At the time, Richardson was in her 20s and was too old for the role. Veronica does learn a valuable lesson about taking control and friendship.

I just saw Barbie Ferreira in another movie and as her performance attests here, she is a talented actress. Bailey is unapologetic, shouts her true self, and never stays on the same topic. She had the funniest lines!

This is a re-friending adventure for the girls. Veronica and Bailey have some interesting, insightful, and ridiculous conversations on their road trip. Despite their differences, they recall their signature handshake and discuss secrets. They also fight over music.

Do you know what happens in road trip films? New travel locations, meeting several eccentric people, and dilemmas delay the protagonists from their destination. Every stop has a purpose. That’s my new favorite quote.

Supporting characters play a significant role in road travel stories. No matter how small your part is, always make it memorable. Best examples include the pawn shop owner, Kara Matthews (Betty Who), and the mechanic shop owner Bob (Giancarlo Esposito). Be careful about who you trust in your travels. You meet the weirdest people.

Every actor does an excellent job in their role. Alex MacNicoll is comical as Kevin, Veronica’s over-prepared and hasty boyfriend. Veronica’s mother is played by Mary McCormack who was in 1408, my favorite Stephen King film. Credits include Breckin Meyer, Sugar Lyn Beard, Denny Love, Ramona Young, Kara Royster, and Jeryl Prescott.

The dialogue is so funny! It feels authentic like the writers actually went on a road trip together. You can have a conversation about anything while driving. You have to pass the time somehow. The comical tone is consistent throughout. Writers keep the story going with one idea after another.

Each scene has a different location. I had a feeling they’d make a lot of stops and they did. Veronica insists on sticking to the budget, but Bailey keeps buying snacks. The girls travel to several rest areas, a carnival, and end up in a crazy couple’s house. Filmmakers found eye-catching locations to film.

Rachel Lee Goldenberg made a film centering on a topic that has merited controversy and changed views around the world significantly. It’s about pregnancy and abortions. The film faced mainly positive reactions, but also negativity. Goldenberg did her own research on the script and stayed focused on the subject matter.

Unpregnant may not be the film for everyone, but it’s hard not to pass up on a travel film. Some parts of Unpregnant are cliche and the ending is sugarcoated. It’s a funny and reflective film. Find it streaming on HBO MAX.