This film scenario may be inspired by true events. But the way it unfolded left too many basic questions unanswered.
Bethany and Terrence are a nice couple who desperately want to adopt a child. In the opening scene, the couple inexplicably have their little adopted boy Gavin taken away from them at the behest of the biological mother. The film never explained the circumstances of the original adoption of Gavin that should have stipulated that the biological parents could no longer lay claim to legal custody.
Then, after experiencing the devastating loss of their little boy, Bethany and Terrence proceed to take into their home a complete stranger who is pregnant and apparently fleeing from an abusive boyfriend. Astonishingly, they pay for an apartment, purchase a car, hire a "midwife," and dole out $30,000 to the woman who makes only a verbal agreement to surrender the baby to them.
The moment-to-moment action in this film simply made no sense. The filmmakers were attempting to spin a message about feelings of inadequacy and unfulfillment related to the inability to become pregnant, as expressed by both Bethany and Georgia. But even that message did not ring true in the current enlightened age where the inability to get pregnant is never defined as personal shortcoming.
Another incomprehensible choice was when Bethany discovered that that Georgia was a phony and might have been previously involved in murder. But instead of reporting it to the police, she decided to confront Georgia personally...with nearly catastrophic consequences.
While the film was well-acted, its structure and message were muddled and unclear. Bethany and Terrence were far too trusting and seemed too naive about the litigious nature of our world. They seemed incapable of recognizing that appearances can be deceiving.
These adoption scam incidents appear to be rather common. The important message is not to rely on social media links for surrogates and to consult an attorney along with a bona fide adoption agency, prior to squandering thousands of dollars on a scammer.
