Earlier this year, while talking about a movie called Let Go, I came to the realization that emotional family dramas scare me more than some of the most grotesque horror flicks out there. To be a little more specific, in order to align this review with the topic of today’s discussion, I’m alright with deciphering the underlying themes and messages in horror movies about pretty much everything related to what women have to go through. Baby Ruby was a haunting look at postpartum depression. Birth/Rebirth saw Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through the lens of motherhood. Clock came down hard upon IVF. Immaculate highlighted the connection between religion and the bodily autonomy of women. Mother! confused me a lot, but I eventually came around to its commentary on the relationship between humans and Mother Earth. And, yes, these impacted me deeply. But I was even more moved by films like Together Together, Scrambled, and Private Life, as they dealt with various aspects of fertility and evoked really existential feelings by simply focusing on the finiteness and fragility of human life. The same can be said about Four.
Canyon Prince’s Four (stylized as Four.), written by Kate Queen and Ashley Berry (who has written the book, “Waiting for Rainbows,” this movie is based on), tells the story of Cal and Ashley, a happily married couple who decide to have a baby. But due to a complication in Ashley’s reproductive system, she is unable to conceive naturally. So, they go for the expensive and complicated option, which is IVF (in vitro fertilization). Sadly, the couple doesn’t find success through IVF, thereby leaving them with two other options: surrogacy and adoption. They go for the latter, and meet up with Beth so that they can begin the grueling process of being eligible to adopt a child. After what seems like a long while, Beth introduces the Berrys to Kara, who is willing to give away her baby soon after she is done giving birth to him. Both parties seem to be happy with the arrangement. However, when the time arrives, Kara suddenly walks back on her initial decision and essentially snatches the child away from Ashley. This unexpected turn of events pushes the couple into deep depression. Will they give up on their dream of becoming parents, or will they try again? The answer to that question is what forms the crux of the film.
What I have described in the synopsis of Four happens in the first 30 minutes of the film, thereby leaving you with one more hour of gut-wrenching drama. So, trust me when I say that this story is certainly not for the faint of heart. And I think that most of us would’ve labeled it an overly melodramatic affair that’s trying too hard to tug at the audience’s heartstrings if it hadn’t been based on the true story of Ashley and Cal Berry’s journey. Therefore, every time you start to think that the screenplay is probably getting a little too manipulative or cheesy, you have to remind yourself that this has happened to the real-life versions of the protagonists. Now, whether or not you agree with Ashley and Cal’s decisions and how they chose to deal with the hardships that they faced is totally up to you. I’m certainly not experienced enough to make any judgments; hence, I’ll keep my comments to myself. As for the structure of the film, it feels like reading a book, since the whole movie is divided into chapters. However, that causes the first and the third act to seem significantly shorter than the second act, as all the conflicts are packed into that middle section of the narrative. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for setting up the stakes of the relationship of the protagonists or letting the audience marinate in their moment of catharsis.
Filmmaking-wise, Four is competent. Given Canyon Prince’s TV background, he keeps things as simple as possible so that there’s nothing to distract the audience from the gravity of the story, which is full of both tragedy and hope. This approach is reflected in the cinematography, editing, production design, art direction, set decoration, costume design, and the hair and makeup departments. Most of the time, the frames are pretty static so that you can observe how the characters are reacting (or not reacting) to the space they are in. That’s why one of my favorite scenes in the film is when Cal and Ashley enter Beth’s adoption center. You see, before that, the couple was in places they were familiar with, i.e., their house or the gynecologist’s office. But Beth’s ominously empty office, as well as the services she provides, are alien to Cal and Ashley. And even before the three characters can do or say anything, the awkward atmosphere of the space becomes so obvious, thereby putting you in the shoes of the couple. The pacing of the film is fine. As mentioned before, the narrative is divided into chapters. Hence, those 98 minutes fly by quite quickly. Now, if you are as emotionally vulnerable as me, then that form of storytelling won’t be an issue. That said, if you take a little longer to get invested in a story, well, the actors have you covered.
The family drama relies heavily on the acting prowess of Spencer Breslin and Meghan Carrasquillo, and they deliver in spades. You need to have a heart made of actual ice to not get a little teary-eyed while watching these two bring the real-life Cal and Ashley’s journey to life. Their chemistry is extremely organic, and you’ll find yourself rooting for the couple almost instantly. Stacey Dash appears pretty aloof throughout the film, but the subtle ways in which she portrays Beth’s caring nature are really good. Supporting actors Lindsay Elston, Emily Gateley, Liz Fenning, Kelly Lynn Reiter, and Julia Small are excellent. All in all, Four is a timely movie as it tackles the topic of family planning in an intimate fashion. I mean, I don’t think that that is a topic that has ever gotten out of vogue. But with inflation hitting new highs and conversations on pregnancy seemingly all over the place, this is as good a time as any to get people talking about what matters and what should be ignored when a couple decides to step into parenthood. So, please give Four a watch, and once you are done drying your tears, talk about it with your partner or someone who is on the brink of starting a family.
