Unpregnant Is a Heartwarming Teen Buddy Comedy with a Serious Core

“Lighthearted teen abortion comedy” is a phrase that on the surface sounds like either oxymoron or farce. This is not to say that abortion is new to comedy; Unpregnant joins heartfelt dramedies like Obvious Child (2014), Grandma (2015), and Saint Frances (2020) and has been addressed on comedic television shows dating back to Maude in the 1970s. But Unpregnant stands out as a comedy not just about teenagers but made for a specifically teenage audience—a gutsy move considering how teen contraception and abortion access are a lightning rod for the the antiabortion movement. There’s also something bold about making an outright comedy that revolves around the very serious issue of the difficulty of accessing reproductive care. Unpregnant manages to be sweet without slipping into sentimentality and take the stakes seriously while also having an uproariously good time.

The movie focuses on popular, overachieving Veronica (Haley Lu Richardson) and her former best friend, Bailey (Barbie Ferreira). When Veronica finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she clearly and confidently knows what she wants to do. But she is a 17-year-old in Missouri, and the nearest clinic that will perform an abortion for a minor without parental consent is in Albuquerque, New Mexico—a 15-hour drive away. Her friends are preoccupied, her boyfriend’s solution is to get married, and her parents are opposed to abortion on religious grounds, which means the only person who can help her is Bailey, who agrees seemingly out of boredom.

Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira in Unpregnant. Ursula Coyote/WarnerMedia

Once the place-setting is over with and our pair is on the road, the movie bubbles into a sincere and hilarious buddy comedy, an effective string of zany hijinks wrapped around a poignant core. The need for an abortion may be the propellant, but the heart of the movie is the bond between Veronica and Bailey, damaged as it is at the beginning. Despite the sarcasm they lob at each other, it’s clear that the protectiveness and affection they once felt for each other remains and redevelops as they begin to trust each other again.

What appears on the surface to be an “odd couple” friendship is revealed by the writing and the chemistry between the actors as something much more layered. Haley Lu Richardson makes a character that could have been plastic and predictable into someone endearingly specific, nailing every earnest and goofy moment. Barbie Ferreira expertly knocks out every punchline with pitch-perfect delivery and infuses the vulnerable moments with affecting depth. The supporting cast is also an unending delight. Due to the road-trip structure, their roles tend to be fleeting but memorable, particularly Giancarlo Esposito as an off-the-grid limo driver with suspicions about the government and fluoride. Sugar Lyn Beard, Denny Love, Alex MacNicoll, Breckin Meyer, Jeryl Prescott, and Betty Who all shine in their scenes assisting or impeding the girls’ journey, giving the movie a lively ensemble feel.

Giancarlo Esposito and Haley Lu Richardson in Unpregnant. Ursula Coyote/WarnerMedia

Some of the road trip antics and dreamy montages do feel a little artificially drawn out to heighten “Are they going to make it in time?” stakes, resulting in a rushed third act. Even so, it’s difficult to begrudge getting swept away by a such an enjoyable trek, and the movie maintains an impressively consistent tone throughout. It never forgets the urgency of the characters’ mission, but it also keeps their personalities, worries, and hopes front and center rather than reducing them to vehicles for cheeky jokes or ideological messaging.

Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira in Unpregnant. Ursula Coyote/WarnerMedia

What’s so funny about a teenager needing to travel one thousand miles to get an abortion? The team behind Unpregnant know the answer is, ultimately, “nothing.” (Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, the movie is adapted from a young adult novel of the same name by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan, who have screenwriting credits along with Bill Parker, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, and Goldenberg herself.) And yet, the openly comedic tone functions well, and even the most over-the-top capers make a canny point about a widespread issue in reproductive health care. Most people seeking an abortion don’t find themselves chased down by an RV emblazoned with antiabortion messaging (hopefully), but far too many face obstacles to care that range from inconvenient to completely prohibitive. Movies like this have a quiet but crucial role to play in reducing the stigma that surrounds abortion and affirming the necessity of people being able to make their own choices about their reproductive future. And if they can have a joyful time while doing it, all the better.

Unpregnant is available to stream on HBOMax.