Highbrow Magazine - parenthood https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/parenthood en Ed Helms Tackles Fatherhood and Surrogacy in ‘Together Together’ https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12053-ed-helms-tackles-fatherhood-and-surrogacy-together-together <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 05/14/2021 - 13:03</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1togetherfilm.jpg?itok=026dCje0"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1togetherfilm.jpg?itok=026dCje0" width="480" height="270" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>The promise of birth is a cherished, positive moment in many families. This prospect can pull together a family or, in some sad cases of abandonment, break one; some people gamble their relationship on it. It can even drive people, out of a sense of pride, to enact a grand destructive gesture while announcing ultrasound results.</p> <p> </p> <p>In <em>Together Together</em>, Ed Helms plays Matt, a father who has gone hastily into the commitment of surrogate pregnancy as a seemingly soon-to-be single father. While the movie begins with Matt asking for information from Anna, the surrogate played by Patti Harrison, the information he solicits doesn't seem especially relevant to carrying a child. “Have you ever stolen anything?”</p> <p> </p> <p>Helms portrays a man we can't help but cringe at as he bumbles toasts, telling his family about his plans, or being a supportive partner. He also invests seemingly trivial decisions, like the color of the nursery, with outsize importance.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2togetherfilm.jpg" style="height:337px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Much like another alumnus of <em>The Office,</em> Steve Carell in <em>The Big Short </em>or <em>Foxcatcher</em>, Helms provides evidence that he's ready for roles that are more than just cheap laughs.</p> <p> </p> <p>As the pregnancy progresses, so too does Matt's relationship with Anna. Tig Notaro playing a couples’ therapist is a treat. She plays a marvelous “straight man” to Matt during some of his most buffoonish moments.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3togetherfilm.jpg" style="height:600px; width:410px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>While there's plenty of comic relief, this is a serious movie about what makes a parent and what makes a family, which is coming to theaters during a time of both great medical promise and socio-psychological peril.</p> <p> </p> <p>For all the fuss about gender reveals destroying the forest, the relevant issue is what role a surrogate plays in the family and why it lurks in the background of prenatal woes. With New York explicitly legalizing commercial surrogacy this year, this movie is a timely salvo in discussion usually consigned to the backburner in the face of emotionally salient issues surrounding the family.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:<br /> <br /> <em>Adam Gravano is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/together-together" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">together together</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ed-helms" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ed helms</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/office" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the office</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/surrogacy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">surrogacy</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/parenthood" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">parenthood</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/new-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">new films</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Adam Gravano</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 14 May 2021 17:03:14 +0000 tara 10352 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12053-ed-helms-tackles-fatherhood-and-surrogacy-together-together#comments