Writer/Directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore aren't exactly known for their subtlety. And, aside from the very first The Hangover film, haven't really broken out of comedy mediocrity. With a list of sub-par comedies like Four Christmases, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, The Change-Up and 21 & Over they haven't actually won anyone over. Their moves are still advertised as: from the writers of The Hangover. It's apparent what they are good at, however: high concepts. These dudes know how to come up with the idea for a very high concept comedy that is something any comedy lover will eat up. However, somehow in the writing process the high concept is somewhat bastardized and turns into a formulaic movie with sporadic laughs and unremarkable moments. The Hangover managed to escape this trend, but the rest of their movies suffer from it greatly. Bad Moms is no exception. While there is a lot to like about Bad Moms, in the end, it feels like we've seen this story several times before.
What I can praise the writer/director duo is being able to show us that female-driven comedies can be just as raunchy and uncouth as anything led by any member of Hollywood's Frat Pack. In fact, Bad Moms could've easily been Bad Dads-- just replace every dick joke with a vag reference and you're basically done. There's still a stigma around female-led movies, especially comedies, that is starting to break down. Bridesmaids broke down the wall... Ghostbusters should've done more damage than it did... and Bad Moms is a very serviceable movie. Especially if you're there to laugh.
Mila Kunis is Amy, a workaholic mother whose husband is a worthless life-suck, she's over used and under paid at her job, her children don't exactly respect her, and she's late for everything in her entire life. She's constantly put down by the Mean Girls of moms, Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate) and her entourage. Finally, after Amy has had enough, at a PTA meeting, she quits. She quits trying to be a perfect PTA mother and says screw it and bails. Her speech inspires single mother and foul-mouthed queen Carla (Kathryn Hahn), and adorable mommy pariah Kiki (Kristen Bell). The three form a bond of swearing to become bad mothers in order to rid themselves of the daily routine and stress that comes with actually giving a shit about your life, kids, etc. This, in turn, pisses off Gwendolyn and the two battle it out for ruler of the PTA.
What starts as a pretty good set-up winds up very formulaic and familiar. The best parts of the film are watching the three mothers let loose and do things they normally would never or have never done before. Rampaging through a grocery store, watching movies in the middle of the day, throwing PTA kickbacks and forcing their children to fend for themselves is the meat and the fun of the movie. However, it's when Amy decides to rid Gwendolyn of her PTA presidency and run against her that the movie takes a recognizable turn. It's the crutch of nearly every Disney Channel original movie, except with more swearing and alcohol. I would've liked to have seen the writers give us something a little more new and a little more challenging.
I've never been a huge fan of Mila Kunis. I think her head is weird and her voice is grating, but if you like her then she's at her Mila Kunisiest here. She's a serviceable lead, but I didn't entirely buy her as stressed out mother and damn the girl can not cry. Christina Applegate is perfect as the bitchy rich mom who chastises everything and everyone because they're not up to par with her standards. Kristen Bell is freaking adorable as Kiki, the mom without friends, multiple children and a controlling husband. The glee in her eyes as she bonds with other females and discoveries she makes about how to have fun with others is both endearing and absolutely hysterical. Katheryn Hahn steals the show as the crass, vulgar, single mom with an oafish son. Her outbursts will regularly crack you up and her attempt to sleep with every dad in and around the school provide for some pretty good comedy fodder. Finally, and this is actually where I have some extra respect for the writers... is the new love interest for Amy. Had this been a movie about fathers, the love interest would be a pretty face and almost certainly one-dimensional. Jay Hernandez shows up as Jessie, a single father with a hard body and a pretty face... and is exactly that. The women are fleshed out characters we love and care about and the love interest dude is nothing but a pretty face and a "good dude". I thought that was a very clever nod to the male-centric movies of yore that pull the same crap.
Overall, Bad Moms is a decent watch. I found myself laughing a lot more than I thought I would, but there were also a lot of awkward moments, jokes that didn't land, and formula that kept the movie from being something truly original and great. It's one of Lucas and Scott's best jobs since The Hangover, but it's not that female-Hangover movie to give the ignorant public the insight that lady-driven movies are here to stay and hauling ass full force into theaters. It's definitely a step in the right direction, and there is a lot to like, but it's just quite not where it needed to be.
C+
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