BAD MOMS (2016)

Genre: Comedy
Director: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Kathryn Hahn, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annie Mumolo, Jay Hernandez, Oona Laurence, Emjay Anthony, David Walton, Clark Duke, Wanda Sykes
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Rating: M18 (Some Nudity & Sexual References)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures 
Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/BadMoms/?fref=ts

Opening Day: 28 July 2016

Synopsis: In this new comedy from the writers of The Hangover, Amy (Mila Kunis) has a seemingly perfect life – a great marriage, over-achieving kids, beautiful home and a career. However she's over-worked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she's about to snap. Fed up, she joins forces with two other over-stressed moms on a quest to liberate themselves from conventional responsibilities – going on a wild, un-mom-like binge of long overdue freedom, fun and self-indulgence – putting them on a collision course with PTA Queen Bee Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate) and her clique of devoted perfect moms.

Movie Review:

You should know what you are getting knowing that Bad Moms is helmed by the writers of The Hangover, 21 And Over and The Change Up. Instead of a bunch of man-boys and college kids, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore is poking fun at mothers.

Real-life expecting mother Mila Kunis plays Amy Mitchell, the seemingly perfect mother to two young kids. She practically run the entire company, she does her son’s school projects and she prepares the kids’ breakfast among other stuff. But Amy is overworked, exhausted from household chores and she just found out her husband is obsessed with porn for the last 10 months or so. She is about to snap until she joins fellow over-stressed mothers, timid and mother of four Kiki (Kristen Bell) and foul-mouthed Carla (Kathryn Hahn) to liberate themselves from their day-to-day routines.

That’s not all. Troubles continue to brew for Amy as she goes head to head with the President of the PTA (Parents, Teachers Association if I got that right), perfectionist and control freak Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate) and her followers, Stacy (Jada Pinkette Smith), Vicky (Annie Mumolo) in a battle for the next presidency.

Given that The Hangover was such a huge hit, it’s hard to blame Lucas and Moore for sticking to their usual brand of coarse humor and politically incorrect gags (the Chinese got poked again and ironically Huayi Brothers actually has a part in funding). Still, there are comedies that hit an emotional core despite the over-the-top jokes and there are obviously a lot out there which don’t. At this point, you might assume Bad Moms belonged to the latter. Got to admit it’s totally formulaic but at certain junctures of the movie, it does appeal to all the mothers and fathers out there.

No one is a perfect mom or dad at the end of the day. Everyone is trying their best to provide for their little ones and perhaps this is the biggest message this comedy attempts to send across. Bad Moms can be very nonsensical especially the hilarious supermarket scene. It’s also very real and touching when the leads talk about loving and hating their kids at the same time. At times, Lucas and Moore stretches things a little too far liked a joke about uncircumcised dicks get slightly too awkward for comfort.

Bad Moms survives also because of the rapport between the three leads. Mila Kunis is very much likeable as the suffering mom with a husband that is basically not helping. Kristen Bell fortunately is a lot funnier than she was in The Boss. Last but not least, Kathryn Hahn who played countless of bit parts from Step Brothers to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is basically a scene-stealer with her zany character getting the most laughs from the audience.

It’s certainly better than any of Lucas and Moore’s recent ventures. I’m honestly quite dismayed I actually put this down in black and white. It might be a long rant about motherhood but definitely you won’t mind rooting for the three underdogs. Liked the three ladies, Bad Moms is perfect for a girl’s night out and for moms who long for a break. Brace yourself for the generous dick jokes. 

P.S. you might be interested to know that the credits has the stars talking about being a good/bad mom with their real-life mummies

Movie Rating:

(“Get up your tits” – the next perfect motivational quote)

Review by Linus Tee