Junior (1994 film)

Austrian research geneticist Dr. Alex Hesse and his OB/GYN colleague Dr. Larry Arbogast invent a fertility drug, "Expectane", designed to reduce the chances of a miscarriage. With the drug unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the colleagues are unable to test the drug and cannot continue their research. Head of the review board Noah Banes informs Larry that while the FDA denied human experimentation, the team has received a donation from geneticist Dr. Diana Reddin from the ovum cryogenics department.

Alex plans to start over in Europe, but Larry suggests they can still perform the experiment, with Canadian firm Lyndon Pharmaceutical offering to fund them provided they find a volunteer. Alex questions the likelihood of a pregnant woman taking an unapproved drug, but Larry suggests omitting the volunteer's gender and convinces him to impregnate himself with an ovum codenamed "Junior".

That night, Alex dreams his potential offspring has his own face. As weeks go by, he complains to Larry of sore nipples, and chats incessantly about walks, massages, and naps. Contemplating fatherhood after watching television commercials, Alex breaks down sobbing. When the time comes for Alex to end the experiment and release the results to Lyndon Pharmaceutical, he continues taking the drug and decides to carry the pregnancy to term; initially annoyed, Larry agrees to keep it hidden. Alex develops a relationship with Diana, and reveals his pregnancy to Angela, Larry's ex-wife, who also happens to be pregnant by Aerosmith's personal trainer.

Diana is stunned and angry when it is revealed that the "Junior" ovum is hers, and Banes attempts to take credit for the experiment. Disguised as a woman, Alex hides in a retreat for expectant mothers, blaming his masculine appearance on anabolic steroid use. Diana visits, telling him it does not matter who is pregnant because he is the father and she is the mother. Larry reveals the experiment's data to Lyndon Pharmaceutical, who agree to partner with them.

Alex experiences abdominal pain from the start of labor, calling for Larry and Diana. As Diana rushes to the resort, Larry tells a fellow doctor to prepare for an emergency cesarean section. A hospital staffer overhears and alerts Banes, who summons the media and the University Dean, hoping to take credit for the world's first pregnant man. Warned by a colleague, Larry creates a decoy for Alex to allow a private c-section. When Larry arrives, the news media only see the pregnant Angela, discrediting Banes, who is fired by the Dean. Diana and Alex enter the hospital by the fire escape, and he has an emergency c-section. Sent to keep Angela company in the waiting room, Diana finds her in labor and becomes her delivery coach. Alex gives birth to a healthy baby girl, and Larry announces the arrival to Diana, who is assisting Angela with contractions. Diana leaves Angela with Larry and rushes to see the baby, whom she and Alex name Junior. Larry delivers Angela's child and they reconcile to raise the boy, Jake, as their own.

One year later, the families all go on vacation together and celebrate the birthdays of Junior and Jake. Diana is pregnant with their second child, and Angela mentions wanting another baby but not wishing to endure pregnancy again; they all try to convince a reluctant Larry to carry the child.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dr. Alexander "Alex" Hesse
• Danny DeVito as Dr. Larry Arbogast
• Emma Thompson as Dr. Diana Reddin
• Frank Langella as Noah Banes
• Pamela Reed as Angela
• Aida Turturro as Louise
• James Eckhouse as Ned Sneller
• Megan Cavanagh as Willow
• Welker White as Jenny
• Kathleen Chalfant as Casitas Madres receptionist
• Merle Kennedy as Samantha
• Judy Collins as Naomi
• Brianne and Brittany McConnell(b.20 August 1993) who are identical twins, played Junior.

Originally developed under the title of Oh Baby, the film was announced during production of Reitman's Dave as a reteam for him and Schwarzenegger.[3]

Writers Kevin Wade and Chris Conrad wrote the script together in 1990 over the course of just under a year with the central concept of "What if men could have babies?" stemming from the two's experience in Jungian therapy as a possible way of reconciling Yin and yang.[4] The two shopped the script around to various potential leads, but in many cases agents outright refused to give it to their clients and several who did were allegedly disgusted with the concept.[4] Mel Gibson came close to signing on for the role, but pulled out after learning of his church's stance on the material.[4] Woody Harrelson also responded well to the script, but the studio didn't think he had enough clout to carry audience interest.[4] Andrew Dice Clay's agent also called regarding the script suggesting it could be a good revenge fantasy for those who took umbrage with Clay's misogynistic humor, but Wade and Conrad shot down this idea as they didn't want schadenfreude to color the movie.[4] When the project made its way to Schwarzenegger, both he and his then wife Maria Shriver loved the script and were instrumental in getting the film set up.[4]

Emma Thompson signed to star in February 1994 following her Academy Award Nominations for The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father.[5]

• List of American films of 1994
• Rabbit Test (1978), a comedy film with a similar premise, starring Billy Crystal.
• A Slightly Pregnant Man (1973), an earlier French film by Jacques Demy, with Marcello Mastroianni playing the man who becomes pregnant.
• Thomas Beatie (also known as "The Pregnant Man"), an American trans man who became pregnant.
• Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy, a Japanese manga that takes place in a future where male pregnancy is a semi-common occurrence.
  • He's Expecting, a Japanese live-action drama based on the manga.

• Junior at IMDb