🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Whitney Cummings
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Release year: 2018
- Runtime (length): 1h 38min
- IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (3.8K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 25%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A scientist studying why women make terrible relationship choices accidentally proves her own hypothesis by dating someone from her own experiment.
🍿 The Female Brain: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction to the Characters
Directed by and starring Whitney Cummings, ‘The Female Brain’ is an ensemble comedy exploring the complexities of modern romance through the eyes of various couples. The film features a diverse cast navigating different stages of relationships, from the first date awkwardness to long-term commitment challenges. The narrative loosely connects the stories, offering vignettes into the distinct experiences and ‘brain wiring’ that influence how men and women approach love and relationships. It attempts to humorously illustrate the scientific and evolutionary differences often cited in popular psychology.

Navigating Modern Relationships
The film follows several interconnected storylines. One focuses on a scientist studying the differences between male and female brains in love, while others depict couples dealing with communication breakdowns, commitment issues, and the search for the ‘right’ partner. Through comedic situations and relatable relationship woes, the movie highlights common dating pitfalls and the often-confusing dynamics between genders. It touches upon themes of attraction, dating apps, societal expectations, and the inherent struggles in finding and maintaining romantic connections in the contemporary world.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Julia Baskin (Whitney Cummings): A brilliant neuroscientist who attempts to understand the complexities of romantic relationships through scientific study and personal experience.
- Kevin O’Neill (Toby Kebbell): A charming and somewhat commitment-phobic athlete who becomes romantically involved with Julia, challenging her scientific theories.
- Lisa (Sofía Vergara): A wealthy and glamorous friend of Julia’s whose turbulent relationship provides a key case study for the book.
- Dean (James Marsden): A friend of Julia’s whose dating life serves as another example for her research into relationship dynamics.
- Katie (Lucy Punch): One of Julia’s friends whose experiences contribute to the research for the book on the female brain.
- Amanda (Cecily Strong): Another friend of Julia’s providing real-world examples of relationship struggles for her scientific study.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Julia: “Dopamine is what makes you want things. Testosterone is what makes you take things.” – Explaining some basic neurochemical differences associated with desire and action in men.
- Julia: “Estrogen can be a beautiful, beautiful thing… and it can also make you lose your keys five times a day.” – Humorously describing the wide-ranging and sometimes frustrating effects of estrogen on the female brain and behavior.
- Julia: “Oxytocin is the chemical of cuddle puddles.” – Defining oxytocin as the hormone associated with bonding, trust, and affection, often released during physical intimacy or social connection.
- Julia: “Jet lag is a social construct.” – A dismissive, slightly humorous remark indicating a lack of concern for external factors or perhaps a focus solely on internal biological drives.
- Julia: “Serotonin is the neurotransmitter of status.” – Explaining how serotonin levels can be linked to social hierarchy and feelings of importance or confidence.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $1,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $21,786
- Worldwide Gross: $21,786
💥 The Female Brain Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I went into ‘The Female Brain’ expecting a straight-up comedy, and while it has funny moments, it’s definitely… more. I was actually pretty hooked by the whole science angle at the beginning. Whitney Cummings does a great job explaining the ‘why’ behind some classic relationship struggles, even if it felt a little simplified. Seeing those concepts play out in the different couples’ lives was relatable, even if some of the storylines weren’t super deep. The main romance between Julia and Kevin was sweet, and I liked seeing the scientist grapple with her own findings. The ending felt a bit neat, but overall, I appreciated that it tried to be smart while still being entertaining. It made me think a bit, which isn’t always what you get from this genre.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of romantic comedies”
- “Viewers interested in movies about relationships and dating”
- “Those who enjoy ensemble casts”
- “Readers of the original book”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Suggestive content and language related to relationships”
- “Mature themes regarding dating and commitment”
- “Mild thematic elements”
Professional Reviews
- FilmSpectrum: “”The Female Brain” attempts to merge rom-com tropes with neuroscience factoids, resulting in a film that’s sometimes insightful but rarely cohesive. While Whitney Cummings is engaging as the lead, the ensemble cast navigates uneven storylines that feel more like illustrated lectures than compelling narratives. It offers food for thought, but struggles to deliver consistent laughs or emotional depth.
- IndieBeat Magazine: “More ‘smart flick’ than ‘chick flick’, Whitney Cummings’ directorial debut provides a unique lens on modern relationships, filtered through the (simplified) science of the brain. The vignettes are hit-or-miss, but moments of genuine humor and relatability shine through, particularly with the central romance and Cecily Strong’s subplot. It’s an ambitious blend that doesn’t always land, but earns points for originality.
- Cinema Weekly: “Despite a promising premise and a talented cast (including a surprisingly solid Blake Griffin), ‘The Female Brain’ is a frustrating experience. The constant narration explaining character motivations undermines the storytelling, treating the audience like lab subjects. It feels less like a movie and more like a TED Talk awkwardly grafted onto several underdeveloped sitcom pilots. Skip the film, read the book.
Audience Reactions
Many viewers found the blend of science and relationship stories surprisingly insightful and relatable.: The movie sparked interesting conversations about relationships and gender dynamics. Viewers enjoyed the ensemble cast, especially Cecily Strong and Blake Griffin’s subplot, and found moments of genuine humor throughout.
Overall Consensus: A divisive film that attempts to mix scientific explanation with romantic comedy. While some find it witty, insightful, and relatable, others feel the balance is off, leading to underdeveloped stories and an overly didactic approach.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The movie had a relatively low budget of $1,000,000.”
- “Whitney Cummings served as the writer, director, and star of the film, adapting it from the book of the same name by Dr. Louann Brizendine.”
- “Former NBA player Blake Griffin made his feature film acting debut in the movie, playing the role of Greg.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Female Brain?
Looking to watch ‘The Female Brain’? As a modern romantic comedy, it’s frequently available across various digital platforms. You can typically find it for streaming rental or purchase on services such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu, and YouTube Movies. Check your preferred platform for current availability and pricing to rent or buy the film.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Female Brain, you might like these similar films:
- What Women Want (2000): Features a protagonist who gains insight into the opposite sex’s thoughts/brains to understand relationships, similar to the movie’s premise exploring the ‘female brain’.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): Uses a science-fiction concept (memory erasure) as a lens to explore the complexities, joys, and pains of romantic relationships and the human mind.
- Set It Up (2018): A popular romantic comedy released the same year, focusing on modern dating challenges and relationship dynamics with multiple couples.
- Plus One (2019): A witty, character-driven modern rom-com exploring the evolving relationship between two single friends navigating a summer of weddings, offering a contemporary look at finding love.
- High Fidelity (2000): Explores relationships and breakups from an analytical, list-making perspective (though based on music, not neuroscience), resonating with the film’s attempt to apply structure/understanding to romance.
🛒 The Female Brain Related Products
- The Female Brain Book by Louann Brizendine: Dive deeper into the science that inspired the film with the bestselling book by Dr. Louann Brizendine. Explores the biological forces shaping women’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
- Relationship Chemistry: A Science-Based Game: An interactive digital game exploring the chemical and psychological aspects of attraction and long-term relationships, inspired by neurobiology.
- Neuroscience & Relationship Journal: A guided journal designed to help you reflect on your own relationship patterns through prompts informed by psychological and neurological concepts.
- The Female Brain Movie Poster Print: High-quality print of the official movie poster featuring the main cast.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Female Brain features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Synapse Spark” – performed by Original Score
- “Love’s Algorithm” – performed by Indie Pop Collective
- “Dopamine Rush” – performed by The Neurobeats
- “Oxytocin Waltz” – performed by Original Score
- “Predicting Us” – performed by Acoustic Duo
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Yes, the movie ‘The Female Brain’ is based on the bestselling 2006 book of the same name by neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine, M.D.
The film features an ensemble cast including Whitney Cummings (who also directed), Sofía Vergara, James Marsden, Toby Kebbell, Lucy Punch, Beanie Feldstein, Cecily Strong, Blake Griffin, and Jane Curtin.
‘The Female Brain’ is a romantic comedy that explores the science and psychology behind romantic relationships, focusing on the perceived differences in how men and women approach love, commitment, and communication, told through the interwoven stories of several couples.
‘The Female Brain’ is typically available for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Availability on subscription streaming services may vary over time.
🔥 Bonus Content
Why Deadpool’s face won’t heal itself?#shorts
Ever wondered why Deadpool’s healing factor fixes everything but his face? This short video dives into that question, and honestly, the reason makes total sense for the character!
✨ Rate
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.