Review of Bad Moms (2016) by Spangle — 12 Dec 2016

"Kent and I have sex every Friday night after Blue Bloods. I find Tom Selleck's work to be very erotic.".

-Kristen Bell as Kiki Part comedy, part ode to mothers, Bad Moms is an often funny comedy that boasts a cast of characters with great"Kent and I have sex every Friday night after Blue Bloods. I find Tom Selleck's work to be very erotic.".

-Kristen Bell as Kiki.

Part comedy, part ode to mothers, Bad Moms is an often funny comedy that boasts a cast of characters with great chemistry with one another, but has an incredibly weak plot. With cliches left and right, Bad Moms is a typical unsuspecting hero rises to the top against all odds against a evil villain who is not actually that evil story. I explained it poorly, but if you watch enough movies (at least more than 10 in your life), you are well accustomed to this storyline. This element certainly holds the film back and though the film's plot and jokes are very typical for a modern comedy, its characters have enough charisma and venom to make them stick the landing.

Led by Mila Kunis, who stars as "bad mom" Amy Mitchell, this cast has some seriously comedic chops amongst them. Joining Kunis are Kathryn Hahn as slutty mom Carla and Kristen Bell as weird mom Kiki and together, the three kill every scene they are in. With raunchy humor coming from every direction, the joke repertoire is pretty limited. Yet, these ladies make it work for them. However, the best part here is actually the characters. Overworked, overstressed, and suffering from a cheating husband, Kunis' Amy Mitchell tries her best, but it is never enough for her kids or anyone in her life. Here, Bad Moms truly celebrates this hero. Though often overlooked, this mom who may not be the best, but tries her hardest and does a good job deserves recognition and this film is willing to give it to her. This is largely the film's greatest accomplishment. Otherwise, Carla is just slutty and Kiki is just weird. They lament about the men in their lives and, to be fair, the men in their lives suck. However, the trio is united in their love of their children, no matter how bratty and rude they can be to them, which is a real testament to moms as a whole. Unabashedly a chick flick, Bad Moms feels the need to borrow from past chick flicks with useless men, guys who the women fawn over, and of course, having its own personal "mean girls". The first two elements are whatever. It is a chick flick after all. However, Mean Girls already handled the topic of the "queen bee" and her little minions. Here, Bad Moms introduces its queen **** as Gwendolyn James (Christina Applegate) and her two lackees Stacy (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Vicky (Annie Mumolo). Vicky is hysterical with her aloof nature and willingness to just go against the tide to do whatever her scatter brain desires. However, Gwendolyn and Stacy are so typical, it is a shame. The plot is cliche, but make no mistake, so are the characters here. Together, they combine for a sea of cliches that hit with greater and greater intensity throughout.

In complaining, however, I do not want this point to be lost: Bad Moms is not that bad. A cliche and modern comedy in all the worst ways at times, Bad Moms can also be hysterical. With a light and fun atmosphere and a lighting quick pace, Bad Moms evades being killed by its negative qualities and instead delivers a quality summer comedy that is nothing but disposable entertainment. Though not a woman or a mother, I can safely guess that Bad Moms would be the perfect idea for a get together of middle aged women. It is raunchy, yes, but it does have a story that will resonate with that demographic and it certainly celebrates these women who selflessly dedicate themselves to those who do not the same for them. This makes for an appealing chick flick for that demographic and it will likely be celebrated a such. For guys, it is a pretty funny movie and you can do far worse when it comes to clear chick flicks. At the very worst, Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, and Kristen Bell, are incredibly funny here and deliver quite good performances that do often rise above the material.