A grown-up, female-fronted comedy is fairly hard to come by so in that sense Bad Moms provides something a little different. Except, despite appearing this way on the surface, it is really a teen movie in disguise.
The film follows three mothers (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn) tired of trying to do everything perfectly and appear perfect to all around. They decide to make a pact to be ‘bad moms’, let loose and stop following the rules, which then incites a rivalry with the head of the PTA (Christina Applegate) and her followers.
There is a mix of hilarious and weaker moments, with some scenes hitting high and others falling flat. This leads it to be uneven, but when the jokes work, they work very well. Fortunately, there are more highs than lows which helps carry the film along.
The central acting is great, each actress shows off brilliant comic timing, delivering the jokes well. The stand out amongst the ensemble has to be Kathryn Hahn whose every line garners big laughs from the audience. The occasional emotional moment is also done well, giving the film a little grounding.
The film’s story seems simply transposed from your average high school film, with the ending being pretty much a reenactment of Mean Girls. However some of the bigger themes touched on help to rescue the film from falling too much into that trap. You might also wish for a wider age range of mums rather than Hollywood selecting just the younger ones, but for what it is it works.
Overall, the film will be great for a girls’ night out or a mum’s day off, and although it will likely appeal to all ages, it is sure to strike a chord with the mums in particular.
REEL WREN 