DVD
REVIEW: BABY MAMA

09/07/08

SYNOPSIS:
Successful and single businesswoman Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey) has long put her career ahead of a personal life. Now 37, she’s finally determined to have a kid on her own. But her plan is thrown a curve ball after she discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant. Undaunted, the driven Kate allows South Philly working girl Angie Ostrowiski (Amy Poehler) to become her unlikely surrogate. Simple enough…
After learning from the steely head (Sigourney Weaver) of their surrogacy center that Angie is pregnant, Kate goes into precision nesting mode: reading childcare books, baby-proofing the apartment and researching top pre-schools. But the executive’s well-organized strategy is turned upside down when her Baby Mama shows up at her doorstep with no place to live.
FILM REVIEW: A modern day
scenario generates a modern day story and it is comically
portrayed by modern day comedic masters. Sounds good to me!
I actually had slightly below average expectations with this
film and then a cream pie was smothered into my face. The
previews don’t do it justice. The poster doesn’t do it
justice. This movie was a lot better than it first seemed.
My “comedy-cry-meter” score for this piece was pretty high.
(For those of you that are unfamiliar, I like to rate
comedies based on how much I cry of laughter). I cried
plenty. It is a good quality comedy including good quality
one-liners and a good quality cast. It’s not as raunchy as
you might imagine. It’s not like Forgetting Sarah Marshall,
for example. After all, it is rated PG-13. It is also
intelligent and snappy. With Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
delivering, you better pay attention or you’ll miss
something. There’s even a case where a simple prop initiated
a roar of laughter. John Hodgman (the PC from the “I’m PC
and I’m Mac” commercials) plays a fertility specialist and
he has a mug in the shape of a pregnant woman’s belly. You
have to see it to believe it. Cute, very cute.
The performances were mixed. Some were stronger than others.
Amy Poehler plays Angie, the baby mama, and she nails it.
Angie has a strong personality yet unrefined and childish .
. . right up Amy’s ally. I’m a fan of Tina Fey, but she
needed a little more umph with this role. She plays Kate,
the mama wannabe, and seems to lack aggressiveness which I’m
sure Tina can deliver. The strangest performance goes to
Steve Martin as Barry, Kate’s boss and the owner of a chain
of health food markets. Even though it was a small part, it
is arguably Steve’s most bizarre role ever and he nails it.
Dax Shepard and Romany Malco contribute nicely to the
comical flow of the picture with their supporting roles.
Greg Kinnear, Sigourney Weaver, and Maura Tierney, on the
other hand, don’t contribute as much as you would want
considering their big names. The success of this film is
mostly in its story and its script, which go hand in hand
with their modern tones.
This female version of Oscar and Felix, the Odd Couple, was
quite entertaining. The two leading ladies worked extremely
well with each other and totally stole the show. Of course
you would have to expect that considering their time
together on SNL. The movie is predictable but a whole lot of
fun. Writer/Director Michael McCullers has done successful
writing for other big comedies like the Austin Powers series
and Undercover Brother. Not a bad transition to Director
with this project, his directorial debut. I think there is a
much, much greater chance of you liking this movie than
there is of Kate getting pregnant.
Film
Review By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
VIDEO:
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Full Frame 1.33:1
AUDIO:
English,
Spanish and French
5.1 (Dolby Digital).
Subtitles - English Spanish
French - Optional
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Deleted Scenes: A total of six funny deleted
scenes all worth watching (6:37).
Alternate Ending: This alternate is worth
watching it has some funny parts, however I still like the
theatrical ending better.. (2:31)
From Conception to Delivery The Making of Baby Mama
Utilizing behind the scenes footage and interviews,
Writer/Director Michael McCullers, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler,
Sigourney Weaver and Greg Kinnear take us through the
hysterical journey of bringing “Baby Mama” to the screen.
(10:07)
Saturday Night Live: Legacy Of Laughter: Tina
Fey and Amy Poehler talk about what it’s like to work
together with SNL alumnus Writer/Director Michael McCullers.
(3:18)
Feature Commentary with writer/director Michael
McCullers, Producer Lorne Michaels and cast members Tina Fey
& Amy Poehler.
RATING BREAK DOWN:
FILM REVIEW |
 |
VIDEO |
 |
AUDIO |
 |
BONUS
FEATURES |
 |
Submit Your Movie Review
MORE MOVIE REVIEWS
>>>