Bioethics Blogs

A review of Table 19: Reinforcing the dominant cultural narrative that all unintended pregnancies are wonderful and wanted

A friend and I recently watched the movie Table 19 because we were looking for a
fun comedy. Unfortunately, the movie was neither fun nor funny. Indeed, the
movie did not deliver on a number of fronts, which is why I do not recommend
it. I want to focus on a specific plot line that this movie employed—one that
is common in movies and books—and that I find problematic. In case you are
interested in watching this movie despite my warnings, there are spoilers

The basic plot is that Eloise McGarry, played by Anna
Kendrick, ends up sitting at the table of “rejects” at a wedding. She was
originally the maid of honor to the bride, but she and the bride’s brother,
Teddy, broke up after two years of dating and she was consequently demoted from
the bridesmaids’ table to the “loser” table, Table 19. As the movie progresses,
we find out that the reason Eloise and Teddy broke up is because of an argument
surrounding an unintended pregnancy. Eloise was upset with Teddy when she told
him she was pregnant because he did not immediately respond positively.
Instead, he asked her what she wanted to do about the pregnancy. His lack of
enthusiasm enraged her and she told him that they would be ridiculous parents,
which angered him, causing him to break up with her via text message. Because
this is a typical Hollywood movie, it has a happy ending with Eloise and Teddy
getting back together and happily welcoming their baby into the world.
