All is not well in the world of Amy Mitchell (Mila Kunis), an overworked thirtysomething mother of two. She isn’t happy with her marriage, doesn’t feel appreciated by her two children, work demands are getting the best of her and she’s constantly tardy due to an over-crammed schedule. Judged by the watchful eyes of PTA Matriarch, Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate), Amy seems at any moment on the verge of crumbling.
After her world finally is turned upside down, Amy is given the chance to start anew – a life of free-spiritedness and rebellion – being a “bad mom” if you will. Joining her are two new-found friends in wild and crazy Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and sweet, naive Kiki (Kristen Bell). In the face of a major turning point in her life, she finds herself butting heads with the powerful Gwendolyn who makes the fight rather personal and Amy potentially faces losing it all.
There are several plot holes in Bad Moms, written/directed by Scott Moore and Jon Lucas. Men and even the Moms themselves at times are perceived as over-simplified. The same applies to our main villainess who is played well by Applegate but at times feels mean for no reason. Focus is blurred at times with superfluousness between Amy and her husband Mike (The New Girl‘s David Walton) which seems to go nowhere and we wish a bit more attention was placed on the juicy battle between Amy and Gwendolyn. That being said, a captivating Kunis, an under-utilized Bell and a phenomenal, scene-stealing Hahn possess something special in their time together on-screen. The Film’s predominantly female audience too will find plenty to like about handsome Jay Hernandez‘s sensitive Jesse, his star rising quickly with a role in another Blockbuster next month, Suicide Squad.
The female voice has been absent for quite some time at the Box Office in a summer of Blockbusters and family-centric offerings at the Movies. And while the focus certainly is on the family here in Bad Moms, little is family-friendly about this expletive and sex humour-filled romp about self-discovery. Bad Moms‘ key messages of self-acceptance and embracing one’s flaws certainly speak loudly to an audience eager to listen. And did we mention there’s a Martha Stewart cameo?
eOne Films release BAD MOMS on Friday, July 29, 2016.
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