The Basics

Holly and Messer (Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel) have nothing in common besides their disdain for one another. They do have a couple of mutual friends, however, whose daughter Sophie is still a baby. But when their two happily-married friends are lost in a tragic, sudden accident, Holly and Messer suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, and they must set their differences aside for the sake of their goddaughter.

And what could have been the most formulaic, plot-driven bit of drivel in the world turned out to be one of the most charming, irresistible new DVD releases of the year. Life As We Know It blends comedic momentum with dramatic interplay, the successful inner workings of which are almost entirely thanks to Heigl and Duhamel's fantastic onscreen chemistry and comedic timing. Were it not for the two stars' innate talents for physical comedy, improv, and dramatic interpretation, the film would have likely devolved into one of the more forgettable films in recent memory. As it is, Life As We Know It will stand as one of the best romantic comedies of 2010, as well as a must-own on DVD and Blu-Ray.