Derived from the brilliant acting of Tina Fey, Baby Mama serves up some great moments as it hits you with both laughs and emotion, making it one of the few films that has delivered a one two punch knockout worth seeing.
Kate Holbrook is both successful and happy; however Kate is also single and childless. Wanting a child more than anything, Kate has researched her options. Unfortunately, her doctors have informed her that she cannot have children of her own and therefore decides that surrogacy is the way to go. Enter Angie, a down on her luck working-class woman from South Philadelphia. And though she is only suppose to carry the child; Kate soon learns that she is going to be getting more than she bargained for. From late night cravings to a little game of karaoke, Angie and Kate must learn how to co-exist because neither can make this happen without the other.
From the get-go we are introduced to Kate Holbrook, played by the always amazing Tina Fey, who is frustrated after many failed attempts at conception. Unable to understand the problem, Kate has chosen to pay a doctor to tell her that her uterus is inadequate for childbearing. With nowhere to turn, Kate decides to try surrogacy, and from there, the laughs are non-stop.
And while Tina Fey is absolutely brilliant throughout the entire film, I must admit that Amy Poehler steals every scene that she is in. Playing her ideal role, that of white trash, Poehler uses perfect comedic timing and witty dialogue to bring Angie to life. And what is even more amazing is the chemistry that she shares with Fey. Alone both characters are one-dimensional and too stereotypical to come off as real; however, when the two come together, they mesh perfectly, representing what years of working together can do for a duo on screen.
In addition I have to credit the male supporting roles of Rob and Carl, played by Greg Kinnear and Dax Shepard respectively. Adding a little testosterone to the mix, both men play their parts ideally as they refuse to upstage their counterparts, instead, acting within themselves and helping the film stay grounded and unfortunately realistic.
But every male supporting role wasn't pulled off with flying colors. Instead, we were graced with the unneeded presence of Steve Martin, who played Barry, Kate's boss. Overacting and be having some of the most hideous lines in recent memory, Steve Martin was out of place and out of his mind in this film, becoming the target to be laughed at rather than laughed with. And what is really sad is that his character had very little purpose in the overall effect of the film; yet he somehow took the film down a notch. Go figure.
But even with his pitiful role, I do want to say that Michael McCullers did a brilliant job with the script as he kept if going throughout the dry moments and making you laugh during every scene. And while the film did play to the generic formula of the genre, I still think that it was a unique enough plot to work.
In the end I have to say that this film was really good. And with Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler taking the reins, Baby Mama quickly goes from a mediocre comedy to a trend setter, taking you on an emotional thrill ride about discovering who you are and the art of reproduction.
