A more compelling version of events might see Natalie pregnant in both timelines following her one-night stand, and making the decision to terminate the pregnancy in one universe, while continuing it in the other. At the very least, an explanation of how she and her parents, who take her in following her graduation, came to an agreement would’ve lent some realism to the situation. Instead, the only clash between pregnant Natalie and her otherwise supportive parents is a minor tiff when she wakes to find them exercising in her bedroom, which they had turned into a home gym while she was away at school.
The performances from Reinhart and Dee, as well as Natalie’s love interests, played by Danny Ramirez and David Corenswet, are charming enough, though the feeling that I was watching pro-life propaganda prevented me from investing in any of them—even Luke Wilson, the original Law Daddy and my forever aughts crush, who is apparently old enough now to play parent to 25-year-old Reinhart.
What felt most insincere, however, was the ending of the film. Both of Natalie’s paths lead to the same outcome—she gets the man (obviously), the dream job (and an opportunity to present her work at South x Southwest Festival), a happy ending. Is this possible in real life? Of course it is! But like the rest of the film, the portrayal of events in Natalie’s pregnancy timeline seem too glossy to be true. Who is watching her daughter while she spends hours upon hours building her portfolio? How is she financially supporting the both of them? While it’s clear she is privileged, the failure to acknowledge it at all leads me to believe that perhaps the filmmakers think of her situation as the rule rather than the exception.
Director Wanuri Kahiu, speaking with Variety, acknowledged the timing of the film, which debuted two months into a post-Roe world, but ultimately says that Look Both Ways is “not necessarily about choice.”
Felicia Graham/Netflix
“I’m so devastated by what happened with Roe v. Wade because it affects so many people, not only in the US, but all the policies that have been funded as a result internationally,” Kahiu, who is Kenyan, said. “Even though this film is not necessarily about choice, I love that it tells any young woman that regardless of which way your life goes, if you truly follow your heart, you’ll be good. You’re making the right decision for yourself.”
