Baby Mama and its surrogate pregnancy theme seems to fit right in with the current trend of alternative means to putting together a family. Adopting is the in thing, with actresses, singers and other celebs opting to go that route, and writer/director Michael McCullers chose the right topic and material to showcase the talents of Fey and Poehler. While a batch of not so funny films have sprung from the minds of SNL cast members and writers, McCullers (who used to share an office with Fey years ago as a writer on SNL and worked with Mike Myers on the Austin Powers movies) smartly chose to do something timely, with characters who fit the public personas of the film’s two stars.
Tina Fey stars as Kate Holbrook, a career obsessed workaholic who comes to the realization that she’s fulfilled all of her goals except one – she’s not a mother. With no boyfriend around to donate some sperm and a uterus that’s in no shape to carry a baby anyway, Kate turns to a surrogacy center owned by Chaffee Bicknell (Sigourney Weaver), a woman who appears to have her baby-making years behind her yet is constantly pregnant. Chaffee hooks Kate up with Angie (Amy Poehler), a gum chewing, Wii playing, unemployed, rough around the edges woman who’s willing to have Kate’s baby for a healthy sum of money.
Angie is inseminated with Kate’s pre-fertilized eggs and voila, she’s pregnant. Unexpectedly, the expectant mother shows up on Kate’s door, bags in tow, looking for a place to crash until the baby pops out. Having Angie stay at her place gives Kate a real taste of what it will be like to have an out of control toddler roaming around her home. And as Kate researches everything to do with pregnancies and babies, she tries to whip Angie into prime pregnancy condition. But Angie marches to her own drum and she has a plan that Kate’s not at all privy to…
Fey’s career couldn’t be any hotter. The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning writer/actress has been seen gracing the covers of entertainment mags, stars in and writes for the critically acclaimed TV series 30 Rock which she created, and now she’s toplining a major studio movie. Fey will have to clone herself if she gets any busier. Opposite her real life friend Poehler, Fey proves she’s just as engaging to watch on the big screen as the small. There’s just something immensely likable about her, and as the uberbusy Kate, she connects with women without putting off the male audience. And Poehler’s just adorable as the lower class Angie. From relieving herself in a sick to causing a disturbance at a birthing class, Poehler has the ability to pull off physical comedy while never getting slapstick about it.
The ladies get support in pivotal roles from Sigourney Weaver, who proves she’s a good sport by being the target of age jokes, and the scene-stealing Romany Malco (The 40 Year Old Virgin) who plays the doorman at Kate’s building who sees all and isn’t shy about butting in as needed. Greg Kinnear also shines as a single dad and owner of an organic smoothies store who catches the eye of Kate. And ex-SNL cast member Steve Martin pulls off a bizarre turn as Kate’s ponytail-wearing boss who’s into auras and meditation.
The Bottom Line
As much as I liked Baby Mama, I was very disappointed that, once again, the funniest scenes from a film are spoiled in the trailer. The locked toilet joke and the chewing gum under the table scene were still smile-worthy when taken in context, but lost their edge because they’re featured in the Baby Mama trailer. Still, Fey and Poehler are entertaining to watch, and the premise is a terrific one to show off their comedy skills.
GRADE: B
Baby Mama was directed by Michael McCullers and is rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a drug reference.
Theatrical Release Date: April 25, 2008
