Written By Belle McIntyre

Photo Editing By Tram Huynh

This quirky indie rom-com has all of the tropes that we have come to expect from this genre. The spunky, free-spirited best friend and confessor, a protagonist at an intersection, a life-altering decision and the chaos that ensues when the direction is changed, the aftermath are all there. But somehow this one feels like it’s got more authenticity and a lot more soul than many of its ilk. That could be because the story is based on the life of Jency Hogan, who plays herself as Daisy and is the film’s producer. She has the warmth and charisma of Toni Colette (one of my all time faves) and imbues her character with relatable vulnerability, awkwardness, and insecurity as she stumbles toward a new way of being and feeling. She learns to appreciate her worthiness and embrace the idea that she can have what she needs even if it does not look like she expected.

It deals with issues of parenthood in general and motherhood in particular. A battle royal is being waged in the head of Daisy Bea (Jency Griffin Hogan), a well-liked high school librarian approaching 40. The opening scene is Daisy in her gynecologist’s office, in the stirrups, while the doctor speaks to her “candidly” from his position between her legs, about the biological clock and why she is reaching her sell-by date fast. She has clearly not been focusing on this subject and is not thrilled at this avuncular advice. Daisy is single, in a comfortable relationship with a man she has been living with for a year. They have great sex and he is a nice guy but not fully engaged in advancing the relationship. Daisy’s inclination is to just go along with it and accept the status quo.

When Daisy finally bites the bullet and has the conversation with the boyfriend who confesses he really does not want to have a child, Daisy breaks up with him and moves back to her parent’s house. Now it is her harridan of a mother who really begins to put the pressure on, relentlessly making snarky comments alternating with “helpful” suggestions of the various ways of getting pregnant. Mama really wants a grandchild by any means possible. She even offers to pay for fertility treatments.

Having shed her fallback excuse, Daisy embarks on some new strategies to achieve her goal. These include taking over an art class in the high school when the teacher suddenly resigns, arranging a student art show, dating a man as a potential sperm source, and enlisting Jack Palmer (Bryan Langlitz), an attractive photographer, to help with the art class. When the relationship with Jack starts to heat up the baby issue comes up again and threatens to derail the whole thing. There is a deus ex machina event which allows for an empowered Daisy to stop getting in her own way and have a new and improved happy life. And yes, it is a feel goodmovie that you don’t have to be embarrassed for liking. It is really very sweet.

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