Friday, August 5, 2016

Review of BAD MOMS: Crusade Against Convention

August 4, 2016


The sleazy local poster of this movie did not look promising at all. I don't know if Mila Kunis even knew she would wind up on such an embarrassing poster layout, wearing unflattering black lingerie like this. Anyhow, I like Mila Kunis and I watch her films. Yes, even the maligned "Jupiter Ascending," I watched and liked. So, I also watched this one even though I had my apprehensions given the title and poster.

Amy Mitchell is trying her best to be a perfect working mom. She gives all her energy and time catering to all the meals, needs, homework and busy schedules of her two spoiled kids, Jane and Dylan.  After one particularly disastrous day of failing to juggle her many responsibilities, she still had to attend a so-called emergency PTA meeting organized by the overbearing Gwendolyn, only to find out it was just about a bake sale. Frustrated, Amy walks out. Together with her new friends (liberated single mom Carla and mousy stay-at-home mom Kiki), she decided to stop being a slave to an unrealistic ideal of maternal perfection, and just be what other people may call a "bad mom". 

Mila Kunis here reminded me of Cameron Diaz and her own raunchy film "Bad Teacher" (MY REVIEW). Like Diaz, Kunis was able to rise above the craziness of her flawed character and make her delightful and likable. Of course, while Diaz's Ms. Halsey was really a lazy nutcase, Kunis's Amy was a good overly-caring mom to begin with, who just felt she needed to rebel against conventional norms and expectations of modern-day motherhood.

Kristen Bell played Kiki, a harassed mother of four toddlers, a sweet shrinking-violet easily cowed by her demanding husband. Of course, her "Frozen" fans will be surprised as to the shocking things their beloved Princess Anna would get to say in here. Kathryn Hahn played Carla, the loud and sex-starved mother of one hulking teenage boy. She's been around for a while, but I think her role here is her biggest so far. She stole her scenes with her strong screen presence and risque lines.  

Christina Applegate played Gwendolyn, a "Mean Girl" who grew up to be a "Mean Mom." I was surprised to see Jada Pinkett-Smith in a much smaller role as Stacy, one of Gwendolyn's minions. Completing their trio is Annie Mumulo as Vicky, who seemed tempted by Amy's cool hip ways, as compared to Gwendolyn's straight-laced bitchiness.

Only one man gets a positive picture painted in this feministic film. He is Jessie (played by Jay Hernandez), a good-looking and buff widower dad all the moms are fawning over. However, the other men here were shown to be jerks. They are either losers, like Amy's husband Mike (played by David Walton); or ungrateful, like Amy's boss Dale (played by Clark Duke); or controlling, like Kiki's husband Kent (played by Lyle Brocato); or wimpy, like Jane's soccer coach Craig (played by JJ Watt); or spineless, like school principal Burr (played by Wendell Pierce).

Being written and directed by the same two guys who wrote "The Hangover" (Jon Lucas and Scott Moore), there were sex jokes galore, including an entire uncomfortably prolonged scene about the uncircumcised penis. There were plenty of scenes and references about alcohol and weed. Having a lot of profanity in the script is probably the least of these naughty offenses. All in the spirit of fun, I understand, but still this type of comedy may not sit well with some sensitive folk (who should have known already what to expect from a film like this in the first place.)

However, under all of these raunchiness, this film actually had an insightful, liberating and poignant message to moms of all types. I could definitely see the connection to what my own wife goes through daily as dictated by our children's schedules in their school, their sports, their tutors, and their extra-curricular activities. If she could tolerate the spicy language and green humor enough to reach the final act, I am sure she (and other mothers) would totally identify and appreciate the female-empowering sentiments of this film far more deeply than any man or non-mom ever could. The surprise extra over the closing credits was a precious bonus. 7/10.

By the way, this one below is the US poster. As you can see, it is far less raunchy than the poster we got here locally.



17 comments:

  1. I`ve seen the poster of "Bad Moms" at Robinsons mall. I wonder why the poster of "Bad Moms" in America is less daring than the poster in the Philippines.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cameron Diaz is one of my favorite actress,would love to see this movie how much she resemble Camron Diaz.Thanks for the review anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for sharing this beatiful review about the movie. The name of the movie looks scary.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The first poster did look like something someone would take second thoughts about watching. And right off the bat, the title reminded me of "Bad Teacher." I'm glad you mentioned there was empowerment at the end. I'm a Mom of young ones so now I'm curious to see what they had to say at the ending.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are right. The poster is not inviting but I totally love the story line. I can relate to it. Whenever I get those forwards about how selfless and sacrificing mom's are, I get pissed of. Why put mom's in a sacrificial altar?? They r women too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Poster is uninviting and for your review is more than enough. i think not my kind of thing even as a light time pass movie. I have lately lost the ability to concentrate on flicks like these that do not really have what it takes to keep me occupied. I am waiting for BFG :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think it's a great movie and one where in a lot of moms can relate to. It's refreshing to have a movie like this after all the superhero movies we've had this year.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I still can remember Mila Kunis and Kirsten Bell to their teen or young adult roles. This one is definitely a new challenge for them and would be something worth seeing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. i still need to watch this. i love them two and need to find time to go out and watch it

    ReplyDelete
  10. Enticing story line shaping me up for the movie experience. I like the different angle the movie tells or makes me imagine - love to see it to understand better.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The US poster was rather tame, in my opinion! I thought it would be well worth to see just to have a good laugh. And it is not everyday that you get to see a film that talks about the woes and the ordeals mums has to go through on a daily basis. I sure hope I can watch this soon. Judging from the trailer, I am betting it's going to be hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I havent watched this movie uet but i will for sure. Im a mom but not a bad one lol

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've seen the trailer when I watched Jason Bourne, and very interesting film. Entertainment-wise it's likely watchable than any other movies.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am quite curious to watch this movie. Mila Cunis is one of my fav actresses.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I didn't realize Mila Kunis was wearing a black lingerie on the poster because it looked more like a superhero's costume to me haha. I think this movie will be a good stress reliever.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I really love mila Kunis and I know she will do justice to the role she played.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow Mila Kunis is this movie, I am her fans and will watch it.

    ReplyDelete