When a doctor visit reveals her fertility may be in jeopardy, thirty-something Nellie Robinson stares down the barrel of a future without options and decides to freeze her eggs.
Based on her own personal experience with egg harvesting, writer, director, and actor Leah McKendrick‘s “Scrambled” feels like an authentic account of what it’s like to be a thirtysomething woman who is feeling the intense pressure of a ticking biological clock. Her female-centered comedy-drama is an emotional roller coaster about fertility, societal expectations, courage, confidence, and finding the right partner in yourself.
“Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” Nellie (McKendrick) understands that old chestnut with an unwelcome intimacy, as her life seems to be a constant cycle of engagement parties, weddings, baby showers, and bad dates. After a bad breakup and facing a disappointing slate of romantic prospects, Nellie decides to do something for her future self: freeze her eggs. As she embarks on this strenuous (and pricey) process, Nellie struggles with going through it alone. Her empowering journey won’t be easy, but with a little bravery and determination, she eventually finds comfort in realizing what she’s been looking for all along.
The film starts out rough but gets better, and it especially feels like McKendrick’s trying too hard at the beginning. The characters are mostly annoying women, and the film has an extremely L.A. sensibility which may turn off some. A lot of the comedy doesn’t feel authentic, and some of the heavier emotional moments come across as forced. Perhaps this is a result of not being able to fully relate to Nellie’s motivation and journey, but the highly personal aspects of the narrative do shine through.
McKendrick tells her story well, showing the reality of the modern dating (and potential parenting) scene through a delightfully irreverent script that includes some witty quips to lighten up the darker undertones. This isn’t a film that serves as a cheerleader for the egg harvesting procedure, and it does not glamorize nor sugar coat what it’s really like to make such a personal decision on your own. There are painful procedures, constant injections, mood swings, bloating, and a changing body that all combine to levy a heavy emotional toll. The bravery of going it alone in such an intimate personal decision without a sufficient support system is expressed beautifully, too.
There is a limited audience for “Scrambled,” and it’s not something that’s going to play to the masses at your local cineplex. Women in particular are going to get a lot out of this movie and while I didn’t love it, I admire McKendrick’s honesty and authenticity in conveying such a personal story in this way.
