Written and directed by two of the minds behind the cult favorite Reno 911 television show and featuring a slew of comedic gems, Hell Baby had the potential to be something special. And while it delivers during its first two acts, the film ultimately falls victim unto itself, turning a bit too silly to keep my attention.
Rob Corddry and Leslie Bibb star as Jack and Vanessa, an expectant couple who have just moved into the most haunted fixer-upper in New Orleans. Controlled by a deadly curse, the two enlist the help of Vanessa's Wiccan sister, a nosey neighbor who lives within their crawl space, two "detectives" with little common sense, and a pair of elite Vatican exorcists to help save them.
Though the film began with the typical cliché horror motifs, it was presented in such a way that you couldn't help but laugh. Almost poking fun at itself, Hell Baby rides the wave of generic thrill tactics as it uses jump scenes and music to stir up enough scares to help balance out the comedic undertones that are served up at nearly every twist and turn.
While Corddry impressed me with his turn as leading man Jack, it was Bibb's take on Vanessa that had me talking. Stuck amongst a heap of testosterone, Bibb was able to hold her own with some of the most entertaining comedians in the business, generating a wealth of laughs as she becomes possessed by the devil who is hell bent on forcing her to have his baby.
Ridiculously impressive supporting work of Keegan Michael Key, Riki Lindhome, Paul Scheer, and Rob Huebel help to round out this stacked cast, giving everyone something to smile at as they all deliver lines of devilish humor that should result in a hefty abdominal workout.
But as the film progresses, it tends to lose sight of its main focus, becoming so silly that it is often hard to give it your undivided attention. I will admit that my eyes drifted to my watch on more than one occasion, especially during the all-important delivery scene. Sure, I was laughing, but at some point I'm ready to see the story end, not slip into some extreme coma of ridiculousness. That, for the most part, is painfully exhausting.
