Hollywood screenwriter Adam Sztykiel has built an extensive portfolio writing city-leveling spectacles and high-concept studio features, but for his feature directorial debut, he opted for a story focused entirely on the fragile dynamics of human relationships. In a published personal retrospective, Sztykiel detailed the artistic transition that led him to develop and direct the comedy film "Let's Have Kids!" alongside his wife and co-writer, Ellie Knaus.
Known for scripting tentpole releases like the DC superhero feature "Black Adam," the monster spectacle "Rampage," the road comedy "Due Date," the animated feature "Scoob!," and writing for the series "Bad Monkey," Sztykiel found himself looking beyond apocalyptic conflicts. While acknowledging an appreciation for massive superhero and action films, Sztykiel noted an industry landscape saturated with high-stakes spectacle, leading him to yearn for the character-driven, universally relatable storytelling popularized by filmmakers like Nora Ephron, Cameron Crowe, and John Hughes.
A Shift From Global Crises to Personal Stakes
The central narrative of "Let's Have Kids!" follows two lifelong best friends who make a pact to get pregnant at the same time so they can navigate early motherhood together. However, unexpected complications test their bond when only one of them successfully conceives. For Sztykiel, the premise offered an opportunity to examine conflict where the universe is not at risk, but individual worlds are thrown into upheaval.
Sztykiel explained that the comedy directly draws upon the real-world experiences he and Knaus faced while balancing marriage, children, career pursuits, and personal connections. The project incorporated specific personal nuances from their daily life, including idiosyncratic character habits performed by cast member Max Greenfield that mirror real-life interactions between the co-writers.
Drawing Inspiration From Cinematic Roots and Human Experience
Tracing his creative sensibilities back to his youth, Sztykiel recalled a formative triple-feature viewing in July 1995 when he watched "The Net," "Waterworld," and Larry Clark's "Kids" across a single day. Reflecting on how audiences connect with entertainment over decades, the filmmaker observed that intricate plot specifics often fade from memory, whereas emotional reactions and shared viewing memories endure.
Sztykiel also highlighted a conversation held on the set of a television production with actor Vince Vaughn, who remarked to him that everyday human experience remains the most enduring intellectual property available to storytellers. That perspective reinforced Sztykiel's motivation to bring grounded, relatable comedies back into focus for audiences looking to see their own lives represented on screen.
Cast and Current Availability
The comedy production from MRC features lead performances by Karen Gillan and Zoë Chao, portraying the central duo navigating the uneven turns of their pregnancy pact. With Sztykiel stepping behind the camera for the first time, the release marks a deliberate expansion of his career from writing studio properties to helming intimate, relationship-focused narratives.
"Let's Have Kids!" is currently available for viewing on digital video-on-demand platforms, presenting viewers with Sztykiel's and Knaus's exploration of modern friendship and parenthood.
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Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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