Urban Thought Collective

BABY MAMA (PG-13)

MOVIE BIASES
Great concept, great trailer, the great Tina Fey.

MAJOR PLAYERS
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Dax Shepard, Greg Kinnear, Romany Malco

LOGLINE
When baby-obsessed, thirty-seven year old career woman Kate Holbrook (Fey), hears that she cannot conceive a child because of her hostile womb, she’s paired up with Angie (Poehler), a surrogate from a trashy background who ends up moving in with her, making both of their lives hell.

THE DEAL
I could judge this movie before the opening credits just from the line for the midnight screening of “Harold & Kumar” (long) and that of “Baby Mama” (there was none - the theater had maybe 20 people). If young America hasn’t already decided on this movie with its entertainment dollar, then allow me to: “Baby Mama” miscarries.

Never mind that it is set up to win from the outset with Romany Malco’s amiable, mischievous doorman Oscar; Steve Martin’s terribly self-important, new age-y company owner; Amy Poehler’s aw shucks-ghetto-dunderhead-of-a-host mother; and the adorable, smart guy’s sex bomb Tina Fey (Mean Girls), as painfully uptight, nightlight-white chick Kate.

Written and directed by “SNL” alumnus Michael McCullers, “Baby Mama” should’ve had Fey pull double duty as writer. This movie donates the odd chuckle, but not enough big laughs of the “Harold & Kumar” variety. Most egregious is that the best parts truly HAVE been played out in all the commercials. Don’t you just hate it when a movie does that to you (and your wallet)?? Through Poehler’s crazed blue eyes and Fey’s bossy, “Some women got pregnant, I got promotions” careerist demeanor, “Baby Mama” does have its charms, not the least of which are a few different plot twists in what is/should be a fairly straightforward story.

But not even an uber-slacker turn by Dax Shepard, or Sigourney Weaver’s extremely fertile sexagenarian surrogate company president can breathe enough life into this silly, but not hilarious, opportunity lost. I hate to compare it once again with the stoner duo from New Jersey (actually, I don’t - this comedy will be compared all weekend long to its more enjoyable contemporary), but when it comes to getting your laugh on this weekend, drop the “Baby” and pick up the weed.

@@ REELS

(TWO REELS)

Extra medium.

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for The 213 Magazine, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com where his new novel I DO? is available NOW.