Not another sequel to a chick flick I don’t care about, I hear you say? Hold that thought.
So I know what you’re thinking. Bad Moms is your standard rom-com franchise, only relevant to those bedraggled women with stretchy waistbands and an all-too personal experience of the trials and tribulations of motherhood. Whilst this may have been true of the first film, the sequel is refreshingly relevant to anyone that has a mum… or a dysfunctional family. Now hands up who doesn’t fit into one of those categories?
From the outset I would like to state for the record that in my humble opinion chick flicks are a much maligned genre. Despite being a filmmaker myself, with a healthy respect for worthy, academy award-winning dramas on a host of serious subjects like poverty and homophobia, I still find romantic comedies entertaining, medicinal and oftentimes replete with nuances that go undervalued and underrated in our overly judge-y industry. Since when did death, drama and destruction hold the bar on what is “good” and worthy entertainment? Personally, I would rather put up my feet and have a decent laugh without any overreaching psychological trauma following my Saturday night movie binge. If it provides comic relief on identifiable themes, all the better! Perhaps I’ll be encouraged to turn that lens of levity on my own situation too.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting Bad Moms 2 is going to go into the annals of history as a life-changing film, but what I can say with absolute certainty is that it is just as enjoyable as the first, and contains scenes and situational comedy you will be hard pressed to forget. Bad Moms went into shocking comedic territory previously unexplored, and the sequel does not disappoint in the outrage stakes. In particular I’m not sure I will ever be able to think of male genital waxing (ahem, yes it goes there) without a stupidly large grin on my face.
Bad Moms 2 is a Christmas sequel, blowing up the notion of creating perfection during the most stressful holiday of the year. And what is the premise? Why, a visit from your mother of course! We all know Christmas is a time of joy, family and togetherness that in actuality sends most of us into a tail spin of anxiety and dread. Family is rarely uncomplicated, and here the premise is taken a step further to downright psychotic realms. The three very different moms who are our central characters – Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) – get an unwanted visit from three very different mums of their own. Whilst this vehicle charmingly works in their origin stories, it also highlights their slow nervous breakdowns as the over-burdened women deal with all the dysfunctions at play in a multi-generational situation.
To add to the fun, the grand dames are played by none other than Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and the ever-cool Susan Sarandon. Women with their own motivating back-stories, these ladies have the confidence to take silliness to a whole new level and still come off winning some audience sympathy. The whole effect, whilst there are moments which remain unbelievable, comes across as good-natured and not too serious about itself. And what’s more, we get a good dose of belly laughs in the process!
If you are after a load of lightness, naughtiness and laughter therapy, give Bad Moms 2 a try. You don’t have to have seen the first film to appreciate it. Bad Moms 2 will be released in cinemas November 1st. You can check out the trailer here.