The premise is simple enough. Amy Mitchel (Mila Kunis) is a “typical” mom. I say “typical” because there is nothing typical about Mila Kunis. You can mess up her hair, throw coffee on her, throw her in mud, buzz cut her hair and she’s still effing hot.
For some reason Amy Mitchel didn’t get the memo, or read Ann-Marie Slaughter’s article on why women can’t have it all and still thinks she’s effing super woman who can have a job, look put together, taxi her kids around to a million activities and still cook a pinterest looking meal at night. Why woman still feel the need to live up to this unrealistic ideal I don’t get, but, that’s kind of the whole point of the movie.
After a series of misfortunes Amy arrives at an emergency PTA meeting disheveled and beaten down to discuss a bake sale (you’ve all seen this in the trailer). After listening to the absurdity of the rules for the bake sale Amy finally grows a set and rebels against the evil perfect PTA president Gwendolyn (Christiana Applegate). Amy’s had enough. It’s time to take action! It’s time to fight back against this unrealistic idea that moms can do everything and that if you can’t do everything you’re a “bad mom.”
Que the majority of the movie of Amy and her new unlikely friends Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla (Kathyrn Hahn) going on a serious of irresponsible, and questionable, albeit hilarious adventures. This would be the Hangover part of the movie. That familiar clip of the women having a house party? Yea- that scene doesn’t disappoint. The upbeat dance party soundtrack flows seamlessly with the movie and I found myself trying to subtly dance throughout the movie.
Kathyrn Hahn’s over the top slutty attitude and one liner’s are classic, while Kristen Bell balances out the neutral Mila Kunas and the over-the-top Hahn perfectly with her characters shy and witty attitude. Applegate nails the over achieving PTA president and her posse of friends do a decent job of rounding out her crew.
While the characters themselves are funny, not all their storylines are fully developed, or completely realistic. But, it’s a summer comedy. The whole point of this movie is to laugh at ridiculous antics and funny lines- not to have an in-depth experience with a character’s journey.
At the risk of sounding like I’m taking this movie way too seriously- I did have issues with the number of times the phrase “bad moms” was used. I mean, I get it. It’s the name of the movie; they are reinforcing the title, and trying to drive the point home that moms who are normal are made to feel like they are “bad” moms from their peers.
But, I would hope by now most women realize that just because you’re not Suzy homemaker doesn’t make you a “bad” mom. It makes you effing normal. The number of times Kunis’ character says “we’re bad moms” and “it’s ok to be a bad mom” is irritating. Switching up one of those phrases with “we’re not bad- we’re normal” would have been nice. Granted, I don’t have kids, I’m not a parent, but I digress.
For a funny light summer comedy this movie nails it and as long as you don’t go in expecting to have completely believable and flushed out storylines this movie is incredibly enjoyable.
Bad Moms is in theaters TODAY!
Written by Sarah
Sarah is a project manager and blogger living and writing in Philly. She blogs at SarahSearches.com. Follow her on Twitter @stackhousesarah
