Movie Review- Jackie K Cooper
"Bad Moms" (STX Entertainment)
"Bad Moms" is another in a series of adult comedies that are full of raucous humor, endless lines of profanity, and discussions of sex that go on forever. You have seen it in all of the last few movies Zac Efron has made; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler gave it a shot with "Sisters", and Will Ferrell has tried to rebirth his career by doing movies like this. Most of those movies have had a core group of people who loved this type of humor but they failed to appeal to a wider audience.
"Bad Moms" actually has a plot, and that is unique. It also has a strong cast of mainly female actresses who know how to make a comedic line snap, crackle and pop. These ladies could teach that "Ghostbusters" group a thing or two about how to sell a line and a situation. Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith and Annie Mumolo show their talent, but the movie's secret weapon is Kathryn Hahn.
Hahn never met a line she couldn't make better by giving it a little extra spin. Hahn never met a situation she couldn't make better with a raise of an eyebrow and a twist of her lips and/or hips. In this film she plays Carla, a single mom who is ready to party. She takes traditional mom Amy (Kunis) under her wing and teaches her how to fly high.
Breaking Amy out of her shell of despair for being a bad mom is what the movie is all about. Amy is trying to hold down a job, be a good wife, raise two kids and keep her sanity - all at the same time. At the start of the movie you see she is losing this battle. When she is at her low point she meets Carla and Kiki (Bell). These three women decide to surrender and become bad moms. It is crazy times from this point on.
The fact the movie has more profanity than it needs and more sexual situations and talk than you want is pretty much forgiven because the movie is really funny. It also shines a light on the women of today who are trying to do it all and are just tired of the hopelessness of the pace. They want someone to help them; they want someone to understand.
The movie is rated R for profanity and sexual situations.
The acting is good, the writing is hilarious, and the message is one that is needs to be heard. The only flaw is the film ends up a little bit too neatly with all the "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed. Some realism would have made the film more acceptable. But that is a minor misstep in a movie that is overall fun, fun, fun from beginning to end. And don't forget to watch every move Hahn makes and listen to every word she speaks.
I scored "Bad Moms" a parental guidance 7 out of 10.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com