Bad Moms is a highly unrealistic film about a group of middle class, extremely attractive youthful mothers who decide to rebel against parenthood.
The lead character Amy, played by Mila Kunis, is far too beautiful and preened to be a believable mother of two bratty teenagers. Somehow she manages to be a highly successful and important businesswoman, whilst also cooking a balanced, nutritious breakfast for her kids each morning, alongside attending every PTA meeting, and simultaneously providing organic roast chicken and kale at dinner time around the family table. All of the above is achieved without a single hair out of place, or a single bead of sweat. Naturally, her makeup remains flawless. I can barely walk to the tube station before my liquid eyeliner has smudged in five different places, and I don't even own a goldfish let alone a child. My idea of motherhood is baggy tracksuits, mismatched socks and coffee stains but I guess the standards are slightly different in Hollywood.
When Amy catches her waste-of-space husband cheating on her, she joins forces with two other mothers as they decide to rebel. This 'rebellion' involves little more than intentionally spilling milk in the supermarket aisle, smashing some jars of peanut butter, quitting the PTA meetings and refusing to make their children breakfast. Personally, I would of had other things in mind.
If you're in search of a plot that is so predictable that no thinking is required, and provides you with the opportunity to robotically stuff popcorn into your mouth for one hour and a half; then this is the film for you. Written by the same pair behind The Hangover; Jon Lucas and Scott Moore have churned out a lazy script, of which I am certain any one of us could have written ourselves. However, it's on the good side of bad. It is funny. And, it's borderline thought-provoking; leaving you feeling slightly guilty for having once been a child, and paradoxically glad that you are not currently responsible for one yourself (unless you are, in which case I recommend having a drink before returning home to them).
Bad Moms missed out on several opportunities to be absolutely hilarious, which is a shame. At points it almost feels desperate as it begs for laughs. It's a lazy, rushed comedy, perhaps hastily made in time to join the influx of all-female casts that are currently sweeping cinemas. Other criticisms include the fact that Mila Kunis calls her children 'baby' far too many times for my liking, we're talking at least in every sentence, and it is cringe worthy. Furthermore, there is most definitely an overuse of the phrase 'you guys', used to address the other mothers, which also began to grate on me, considering the inaccurate gender reference. There are too many expensive, slick slow-mo montages of the women flicking their hair and strutting in their heels, paired with a hip-hop soundtrack; too forced for my liking, especially on the third use. It worked in The Hangover, it even worked in Bridesmaids, but sadly not this time. There's also a not-so-funny scene involving a onesie and talk of male circumcision that just doesn't translate and leaves you feeling a little let down. But on the plus side, there is an unexpected cameo from Martha Stewart and some canapés. Hilariously and somewhat disturbingly, Kunis' eleven-year-old daughter looks older than her; I don't know whether that says something about Kunis' cosmetic surgeon or the stress that teenagers are subjected to these days.
With talk of houmous and gluten free this and that, Bad Moms is the most American, middle class depiction of motherhood but as long as you know this before seeing it, you'll enjoy it. Thankfully, Kunis' beautiful, mesmerising, gigantic eyes are enough to distract you from the filo pastry thin plot and lack of gags.