by Jon Partridge
The creators of The Hangover Trilogy — Jon Lucas and Scott Moore — are back, this time moving away from bro-centric comedy for something more female-orientated. In Bad Moms, Amy (Mila Kunis) is stuck in a rut. Balancing a part time job, being an accommodating wife and a mother to two children, as well as all the school-based commitments that come with it, are taking their toll. After catching her husband Mike (David Walton) engaging in some illicit online behavior, she realizes she needs to make a change in her life.
After turning her back on the Parent Teacher Association, led by the seemingly perfect Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate) and her two lackeys, Stacy (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Vicky (Annie Mumolo), she strikes up a friendship with the downtrodden Kiki (Kristen Bell) and the raucous, outspoken Carla (Kathryn Hahn). Liberated from her marriage and passing on more responsibility to her kids, Amy starts to catch up on her lost years. Her behavior sets her on a course to challenge for the presidency of the PTA, but the fallout from her campaign and continued change in attitude have big effects on her work and family life.
Bad Moms is being pushed as a comedy so it seems fair to tackle that aspect of the film first. It is funny at times, usually stemming from the tireless efforts of Hahn; a standout being a gag using a shocked Kiki in a hoodie to demonstrate how to handle a uncircumcised penis. But overall it feels a little forced, notably in terms of vulgarity. I know women who can outcuss sailors and come across as entirely natural in doing so. Quite often in Bad Moms it just feels like words dropped in for shock value rather than a phrase fitting the characters.
That Bad Moms veers into Hangover 3 type humor is unsurprising given the talent behind the project. It just needed a more nuanced touch to flesh out some of these characters beyond the caricatures they are and the jarring, clunky vulgarity inserted into their mouths. For instance, portraying Mike as such a bum keeps things black and white rather than the more true grey that things probably are. Most situations are a little more complex that those presented here. Granted, extremes work better in a short space of time and for comedy’s sake. But it seems like a missed opportunity to delve into these topics. Annie Mumolo is on board as a rather one-joke character and considering her work on the (comparatively) brilliant Bridesmaids, she should perhaps have been asked instead to give the script a once over. She could at least have maybe talked them out of using some of the clunkiest voiceovers and intrusive musical cues I’ve encounter in a long time.
While the comedy is hit or miss, there is another layer to the film that is more accomplished. Much of the plot revolves around a mother reaching breaking point; The stress heaped on her by her husband, children, and even fellow mothers pushing her to a point where she has to push back. The film sends out something of a battle-cry, rallying against rules, responsibilities and the ideals of being a perfect mother. It’s also an indictment of entitlement and overly coddling children. I appreciate and applaud any efforts to tackle these facets of our society. Being a mother is a hard enough job as it is without all the insane expectations and additional pressure being heaped on parents these days. Bad Moms feels like something of a release valve in that respect, a liberating quality that comes to the fore as the film progresses. In contrast to this is the ending, which is something of a stumble. It’s overly neat, fanciful even and as such at odds with the message the film sends out. Striving to show how you can be a little rough around the edges, make mistakes grounds the film and an ending somewhat more complimentary to this would have been more fitting.
After Ghostbusters, it’s simply wonderful to see another big summer release providing a strong female cast with an opportunity to shine. Each inhabit their roles as cogs in a well oiled machine, especially the main trio who have great chemistry as well as a surprising knack for physical comedy. Bell’s Kiki is a rather endearing, downtrodden, subservient mess. Hahn predictably is the standout with her turn as an an insatiable boozer. Put her in ALL the films. Kunis holds the thing together despite being lumbered with the aforementioned horrendous voiceover work. Each gets an arc. Some get their shit together a little more than others. Supporting cast members do fall into the caricaturist category but some cameos make much of the little time afforded them.
For the record, if PTAs have as much influence in schools around the country as is shown in this film, then THAT is what’s wrong with America.
Bad Moms is a film of two conflicting parts. The first is the comedy, which at times is entertaining but others forced and clunkily executed. The second is a timely message about both parents and children today. About responsibilities, expectations and behavior, and how certain aspects of each are out of control. It’s a film that perhaps would have worked better with more emphasis on the message it tries to impart rather than trying to awkwardly crowbar in some of the coarse humor. It will undoubtedly strike a chord with many though, going down a treat with that glass of “shitty wine”. Better make it a bottle.
Bad Moms opens in theaters nationwide on July 29th.