Number One with a Bullet: Baby Mama

April 30, 2008 by Lord Jason  Send to a Friend

If this title was a Wayan’s Bros. movie, it would probably involve a baby getting trapped in the body of it’s mother. Or something equally hilarious.

I have an obsession with all things condensed. Condensed milk. Condensed matter physics. But mostly, I am obsessed with Reader’s Digest condensed books. This is due to the fact I couldn’t possibly hope to get through an ENTIRE Patricia Cornwell novel without my ADHD rearing its ugly, manic head. In theory, this explains why I have a subscription to Reader’s Digest. After I finished reading the hilarious Marmaduke cartoon in a recent issue of Reader’s Digest (or ReDi as the IMers call it), I stumbled upon an interview with Tina Fey where she mentions briefly the difference between male and female styles of comedy.

Tina Fey: Every comic way of writing is unique, but I think male comedy is more boisterous. Usually it involves robots and sharks and bears. Female comedy is more likely to be about the minutiae of human behavior and relationships.

This is totally true. As I am hyper-masculine*, I myself only enjoy comedy when it is about Robot Shark Bears, the most dangerous(and hilarious) of all the cyborg carnivore predators. But I also happen to enjoy Anthropomorphic Robot Shark Bears, and their crazy whirlwind relationships. I’m not sure whether that makes me a little more female, but I’ll take it. At least it gives me an excuse to watch Oprah’s Big Give and be excited for the Sex and the City Movie. It also means I’m kind of like Michael McCullers, the writer and director of Baby Mama; a man, according to Ms. Fey’s logic, has an affinity for “female comedy”. Whatever the hell that means.

*Back-hair.

Baby Mama is the story of a highly successful businesswoman named Kate (Fey), who’s biological clock is ticking*. Unfortunately she has a t-shaped uterus, and thus cannot conceive. Her babymania takes over and she takes the step of going to an agency and hiring a surrogate mother, Angie(Amy Poehler). After a huge fight with her common-law husband, Angie moves into Kate’s apartment to finish out her pregnancy there. What follows is a fairly standard Odd Couple comedy about an uptight business woman and a lovably uncouth white trash lady.

*Or moving along silently, as modern, digital clocks don’t tick. Although, I can almost be certain that Sharper Image used to have a ticking digital clock, which is kind of like getting a digital voice activated 1930s style candlestick phone, with the detachable earpiece.

The laughs are sporadic, and most of them come from Steve Martin’s supporting role as Tina Fey’s uber new age boss, the owner of a Whole Foods style supermarket. In one bit he rewards Tina’s character with 5 minutes of silent eye contact. Sigourney Weaver also shines as the 60 year old owner of the surrogate agency who is always getting pregnant. Overall, the entire cast is pretty uniformly hilarious, and each character has their moments.

Right up until the nice Hollywood ending, the plot of the film doesn’t ever seem forced, which I enjoyed. There are also enough subtle twists to make the situation more interesting, and give the characters some depth.

What I enjoyed most, however, was that the overall feel of the movie is pleasant, and, unlike Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, it doesn’t leave you with a nasty aftertaste.

It’s no comedy about a Robot Shark Bear, but us guys still sure can laugh at women! Especially when they try to drive! You know those bad lady drivers! HA!

Wait…I think that came out a little wrong. I’m going to go cry now.

Note: Be on the lookout for the delivery scene during which the doctor says the punchline to an extremely disturbing joke. I laughed REALLY loudly when I heard it, and everyone else in the theater looked at me like I was nuts. I guess they don’t know as many child molester jokes as I do.

My Reaction: Pretty Good (3 out of 5)

Next Week: Dude… FUCKING.Iron.FUCKING.Man, man. Til then, I’ll be trying to hide my fanboy boner with my comic books all week. Stay in touch with your feelings, kids.

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