Baby Mama (film)
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| Baby Mama | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Michael McCullers |
| Produced by | Lorne Michaels John Goldwyn |
| Written by | Michael McCullers |
| Starring | Amy Poehler Tina Fey Greg Kinnear Romany Malco Dax Shepard Maura Tierney Steve Martin Sigourney Weaver |
| Music by | Jeff Richmond |
| Cinematography | Daryn Okada |
| Editing by | Bruce Green |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April 25, 2008 |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30 million |
| Gross revenue | $64,275,411 |
Baby Mama is a 2008 comedy film from Universal Pictures written and directed by Michael McCullers and starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Romany Malco and Dax Shepard.
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[edit] Plot
Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey), a successful single businesswoman who attended The Wharton School from Philadelphia, has always put her career before her personal life. Now in her late thirties, she has finally decided to have a child on her own. Her plans change when she discovers she has only the slimmest chance of becoming pregnant because she finds out her uterus is T-shaped. Also denied the chance to adopt, Kate hires an immature, obnoxious South Philly girl named Angie Ostrowiski (Amy Poehler) to become her surrogate mother.
When Angie becomes pregnant, Kate begins preparing for motherhood in her own typically driven fashion — until her surrogate shows up at her door with no place to live. Their conflicting personalities put them at odds as Kate learns first-hand about balancing motherhood and career by catering to Angie's childish needs. As if this weren't enough, Kate begins dating the local owner of a blended juice cafe, Rob (Greg Kinnear).
What Kate does not know is that Angie is faking the pregnancy and that the in-vitro fertilization did not succeed. Hoping to ultimately run off with her payment, Angie begins to regret the lie but continually puts off confessing. When she gets an ultrasound, she discovers she is actually pregnant. Realizing the baby is her own (with her common-law husband from whom she is separated), Angie is forced to confess at Kate's baby shower. When Kate explains to Angie that the pregnancy test was supposed to be taken two weeks after the procedure, and that the baby could still belong to her, it drives a wedge between the two women.
At the court hearing to determine the maternity of the child, Angie makes an impassioned apology. The baby turns out to be Angie's. Meeting face to face after the proceedings, Angie's water breaks and Kate rushes her to the hospital. During Angie's delivery, Kate passes out. Upon waking, the doctor supervising Angie's pregnancy tells Kate that she's pregnant (the result of her relationship with her new boyfriend). After receiving the news, she goes to visit Angie, who is holding her new baby girl Stefani, named for Gwen Stefani, aka "Stef." Kate forgives Angie and the two become great friends.
Angie and Kate raise their children and are friends one year later at Stefani's first birthday party. It is revealed that Kate and Angie are best friends, and that Kate and Rob are very proud parents of a baby girl and engaged. Although he does not get back together with Angie, Carl stays close to his daughter and begins taking parenting classes.
[edit] Cast
- Tina Fey as Katherine "Kate" Holbrook
- Amy Poehler as Angela "Angie" Ostrowiski
- Greg Kinnear as Rob Ackerman
- Romany Malco as Oscar Priyan
- Dax Shepard as Carl Loomis
- Maura Tierney as Caroline Holbrook
- Steve Martin as Barry Waterman
- Sigourney Weaver as Chaffee Bicknell
- Holland Taylor as Rose Holbrook
- Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Birthing Teacher
[edit] Reception
[edit] Critical reception
Baby Mama received mixed to generally positive reviews from critics. As of February 15, 2009, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 62% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 151 reviews, with the consensus that the film is "a lightweight, predictable comedy with strong performances."[1] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 55 out of 100, based on 34 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews.[2]
In a review for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, reproductive lawyer Melissa Brisman comments that this movie should be viewed as entertainment rather than as portraying surrogacy in a factual manner.[3]
[edit] Box office
In its opening weekend, Baby Mama grossed $17,407,110 in 2,543 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking #1 at the box office and averaging $6,845 per theater.[4]
As of May 5, 2009, Baby Mama has grossed a total of $64,275,411,[5] over its $30 million budget.
[edit] Home media
Baby Mama was released on September 9, 2008 on both DVD and Blu-ray. Extras included commentary with writer/director Michael McCullers and cast members Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, From Conception to Delivery: The Making of Baby Mama Featurette, an alternate ending, deleted scenes, and Saturday Night Live: Legacy of Laughter.
[edit] References
- ^ "Baby Mama Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/baby_mama/. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Baby Mama (2008): Reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/babymama. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Gestational Surrogacy: Dispelling the Myths By Melissa Brisman, Esq.". http://www.resolve.org/site/DocServer/Gestational_Surrogacy.pdf?docID=5142. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
- ^ "Baby Mama (2008) - Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=babymama.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Baby Mama (2008)". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=babymama.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
