Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Ariane Felder is pregnant! This is surprising with her being a young hardened judge with strict morals. But what is more surprising is that, according to paternity testing, the child's father is none other than Bob, a criminal from the prosecution charged with an atrocious attack! Ariane doesn't remember any of what has happened, so she has no idea what to expect...
9 Month Stretch is a French comedy with a reasonably inventive premise—a no-nonsense judge discovering she's pregnant by a defendant she has no memory of—that generates decent comedic friction. The plot is serviceable and leans into farcical misunderstanding well enough, though it runs out of steam before the finale, which feels rushed and convenient. Acting is solid from the leads, particularly Albert Dupontel who brings energy to his role, but the supporting cast is uneven. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable, typical of mid-budget French comedy. Novelty earns a slight edge thanks to the unusual courtroom-meets-rom-com premise, even if the execution doesn't fully exploit its potential. The ending disappoints with a formulaic resolution that softens the sharper edges the setup promised.