Movies

Based on Allison Pearson's 2002 novel, I Don't Know How She Does It has Sarah Jessica Parker playing Carrie ... sorry, Kate Reddy, a woman juggling work, family and marital responsibilities, in a movie that's more sitcom than rom-com.

Kate is wife to out-of -work architect Richard (a very gee-whiz Greg Kinnear), mother of two small kids, and an investor in a high-powered hedge fund firm, headed by aloof Clark Cooper (Kelsey Grammer). When she gets her big break working with Jack Abelhammer, (debonair but Aston Martin-less Pierce Brosnan), work pressure mounts and something has to give, especially with hubbie landing a big contract which pulls him from the domestic front.

SJP is ideal for the role and indeed IS the movie — harmless, cloyingly over-eager, apologetic, desperate to please and not offend. The closest thing to a villain is Kate's backstabbing, sexist workplace rival Chris Bunce (Seth Meyers). The biggest crisis is Kate's toddler son getting mildly hurt falling down stairs.

The humour seems squarely directed at working mums, such as a lice-ridden Kate furiously scratching during a crucial business meeting.

Issues about workplace politics, gender roles and juggling priorities are done via freeze-framing, with characters talking directly to the audience. But whatever is said is too easily understood by anyone already bearing multiple responsibilities. And given the state of the USA's finances, I just can't feel sorry for an over-burdened hedge fund investor!

Meanwhile, there is little chemistry between SJP and Kinnear. There's also little sexual tension between Carrie…sorry, Kate and Mr Big... ahem ... Jack, but it's all too nice.

There is enough depth of drama to warrant a (short) TV series, but not a film. Forget the popcorn, send your boss an email, or text your partner about the kids' footy training and you still won't miss much.