USA 2016
Opening September 22
Directed by: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Writing credits: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Principal actors: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith
What happens when overworked and under-appreciated moms finally take some time for themselves and let loose? Bad Moms, written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (best known for writing the Hangover films), presents one possible outrageous outcome.
Amy (Kunis) is trying to juggle two tween kids, a part-time job that demands full-time hours, her slacker husband, and crazy school PTA demands; Kiki (Bell) is trying to keep her sanity as a stay-at-home mom to four little ones; and single-mom Carla (Hahn) is taking it day-by-day, not caring what anyone else thinks of her. But when Amy has a particularly bad day that pushes her over the edge, she joins forces with Kiki and Carla to escape the overwhelming pressure on them while taking on the alpha-moms (Applegate and Pinkett Smith) who rule their kids' school.
If you choose to see Bad Moms, I would highly recommend doing so the way that I did -- as a "ladies night out" with a group of other moms who all really need a night out. That is the best possible atmosphere for enjoying the antics and knowing dialogue commenting on the absurd standards that moms are held to in the 21st century. The cast is wonderful (good and "bad" moms alike), and many of the scenes are very funny, but somehow the film doesn't go quite deep enough or nail the situations exactly correctly. While Bad Moms was entertaining, the group of ladies I saw it with all agreed that it probably would have been a lot funnier had it been written by actual (bad or not!) moms. ()