Lindsay Lohan has "Labor Pains"

Much has been made of Lindsay Lohan's career decline to starring in the ABC Family Channel movie "Labor Pains" and that it is a small step forward in reviving her flagging career. "Labor Pains" is a minor and forgetable comedy that will neither hurt nor enhance anybody's career. It is a paycheck and means of being seen.

Lohan acquits herself well but her acting is not the issue. Her professionalism is. Lohan received a comeback opportunity when getting a multi-episode guest shot on "Ugly Betty" and that ended when she clashed with star America Ferrera. Hollywood could care less that she is a tabloid queen due to her tumultuous personal life but they do care if you are a problem on the set.

The actress plays Thea Clayhill whose on the fast track to nowhere. She had to drop out of college when her parents died in order to support her ungrateful younger sister Emma (Bridgit Mendler). Thea rides to work on the bus and is behind on the rent. Her secretarial job at a publishing firm is a nightmare due to her total ass of a boss Jerry Steinwald (Chris Parnell). One of the main comedy bits is Jerry's bizarre relationship with MacArthur, one of those creepy hairless chihuahua rat dogs.

Cheryl Hines does her familiar buddy routine as Thea's partner-in-crime Lisa. When Jerry fires her, Thea blurts out in desperation that she is pregnant knowing an employer cannot fire a pregnant employee. From there on the situation proceeds with predictable results as Thea perpetuates the hoax.  However, Thea gets into being "pregnant" and why not since her "condition" has everyone treating her well. People surrender seats on the bus to her. The big break arrives when Jerry takes a leave of absence and hands the reins to his unhappy accountant brother Nick (Luke Kirby) who has his own ideas.

Nick finds a manuscript on pregnancy by Suzy Cavendish (Bonnie Somerville) that he thinks has potential. He promotes Thea to associate editor and assigns her the book. Can you say sparks of romance and out of control pregnant chaos. There is really no spark or anything special about "Labor Pains." Maybe pregnant women can get into it.

"Labor Pains" belongs more on the Lifetime Network than on ABC Family Channel because it is inappropriate family viewing due to its theme of faking a pregnancy. That is a serious issue not to be treated lightly in front of a family audience.

Lohan can still project that wholesome All-American quality and still looks sensational. She seems a little tired in the face but that fits with her harried character. Her figure remains terrific and it is displayed in underwear a few times. So that does provide some eye candy moments for male viewers.