Movie Review: Baby Mama (2008)
Critical Movie Critic: General Disdain | Published on: June 2, 2008 |
Filed under: Comedy
Directed By: Michael McCullers
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Steve Martin
IMDB Link: Baby Mama
Movie Trailer: Trailer
Few would argue against the fact that Judd Apatow and Tina Fey are the hottest comedic properties in Hollywood today. So with the success of Apatow’s Knocked Up last year, there was little surprise that its premise (or some form of it) would rear its ugly head again. It has with Baby Mama.
While Baby Mama doesn’t necessarily miss the boat as Apatow’s production did (his didn’t focus on the pregnancy at all), it is still a very poorly conceived film. That’s because writer/director Michael McCullers figured Amy Poehler playing a socially retarded character against Tina Fey’s straightlaced role would be all that was required for successful comedy. In many cases, the antagonist/protagonist comedy sketch is enough to make a funny movie, but this movie is just so damn dull and lifeless that it never gets much better than one of those lame Saturday Night Live skits we’ve gotten so used to.
Mostly, it’s because the majority of the characters are about as engaging as watching a debate over whether new Coke is better than old Coke. Tina Fey as Kate Holbrook, the childless, super successful vice-president of whole foods company Round Earth, is the correct call from a casting standpoint. What falters is she isn’t given any room to make the character anything but a lonely, prudish complainer. Her lines are as dry as her uterus (hence the reason she hires Poehler to carry her baby) and worse she says them very blasé, with an almost complete disinterest in what she is doing. Watching her “relationship” with Rob Ackerman (Greg Kinnear) bloom is equally painful to watch. They say love is blind, but is it stupid too? These two have nothing in common and seem put together strictly to make Kate appear to have a pulse.
There is a bright spot and Lord help me for saying this, but Poehler’s performance as Angie Ostrowiski, the off-the-wall, adolescent-minded surrogate, is actually the high mark for actors in Baby Mama. All the red lights have been removed from her path, so she hams it up like nothing I’ve ever seen on celluloid before (although Adam Sandler has had his moments). She has really honed her craft for obnoxious behavior during her seven years on SNL and ten or so movies she’s done in the past year or so, and it has all culminated in her showing here.
Aside from that lone non-blemish, Baby Mama should really be viewed as a public service ad for how not to make a comedy. While most of the jokes come at the expense of Angie acting like a cavewoman (pissing in a sink comes to mind), the others rely on a mixture of basic, humdrum comedy staples and the latest cool lingo and fads – most of which result in very awkward silences (i.e., the audience doesn’t laugh). Hell, when a comedic icon like Steve Martin can’t be made funny (he’s Barry, Kate’s transcendental boss), you know you’ve stepped into some deep shit. In good faith I can only recommend this movie to the legions of fans of Amy Poehler – there is absolutely no other reason for anyone else to want to see this. That is of course unless it is on cable and it is a rainy Sunday afternoon (at which point it is a toss-up to either watch this or pluck your eyebrows).
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About: General Disdain I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies. |
Dental Websites posted a response on: June 3, 2008 | Reply
I wouldn’t go to the theatre to see this one, but I will get it on netflix for a little giggle on a boring day.
big man shop UK posted a response on: November 10, 2008 | Reply
Totally agree with the ridiculous pairing of the Ackerman with the career loving vice-president.
Made no sense to me and pretty much ruined the film for me
voyant posted a response on: March 1, 2009 | Reply
completely and absolutely agree, Ackerman is not a place I think for me.
club penguin posted a response on: July 13, 2009 | Reply
Totally agree with the ridiculous pairing of the Ackerman with the career loving vice-president.
bookmarking posted a response on: August 30, 2009 | Reply
I never watched Baby Mama, but I saw it at a Blockbuster store. It seems to be a good movie at first glance.
Besides, this film got 6.1/10 from imdb.com and 63/100 from rottentomatoes.com. It’s an acceptable score, I guess. I might watch it sometime.
Virtual Pets posted a response on: September 30, 2009 | Reply
If only Tina Fey had written the movie, then maybe it would have been bearable.
free money for bills posted a response on: October 1, 2009 | Reply
“Bearable”? Maybe I’m just quirky or something, but I didn’t think the movie was half that bad. Or maybe I was just prejudiced because of Tina Fey being in it.
Steven M posted a response on: October 2, 2009 | Reply
Wow, that is one heck of a rating. Four turd piles? That has got to be the funniest rating system that I’ve seen in a while! Really that bad, huh?
Toronto Real Estate Listings posted a response on: October 3, 2009 | Reply
Yes, StevenM… it really was that bad. The rating may seem harsh, as I am normally pretty giving in my opinion on things. But this movie absolutely deserves the rating it got.
General Disdain posted a response on: October 4, 2009 | Reply
Carrying on a fictitious comment conversation is what I find barely “bearable”. Take your comment spam elsewhere please.
bathroom wall panels posted a response on: October 16, 2009 | Reply
You know? I’ve never seen this movie and was thinking about renting this weekend when my friend will be here. Now I don’t know though!
Portable Tap Dance Mat posted a response on: October 16, 2009 | Reply
I had the chance to watch this movie last year but i forgot some of the scene. Maybe i will rent it on weekends.
Play Online posted a response on: October 23, 2009 | Reply
In many cases, the antagonist/protagonist comedy sketch is enough to make a funny movie, but this movie is just so damn dull and lifeless that it never gets much better than one of those lame Saturday Night Live skits we’ve gotten so used to.
Cheap Dental Insurance posted a response on: October 29, 2009 | Reply
I watched this yestarday with my duaghter. She is off school unwell so it was a day on the sofa with a couple of films. She liked the film and I have to adnmit I liked it too.
Emo posted a response on: October 29, 2009 | Reply
Wow, that is one heck of a rating. Four turd piles? That has got to be the funniest rating system that I’ve seen in a while! Really that bad, huh?
trans siberian railway posted a response on: October 29, 2009 | Reply
I think the story here was there, but they miserably failed at making it into the comedy I think they thought they had. Not the worst movie, but it could have been much better if they had taken a little more time in choosing who played what.
العاب posted a response on: December 4, 2009 | Reply
I really don’t know, but i liked the film, it’s not that movie but it is still funny one.