Baby Mama

Review by Sean Lynch

In an era where big screen comedy has been pretty much dominated by a select two of three males (Ferrell, Sandler, Stiller), it's great to finally see a couple of gals coming through that can really hold their own - and give female movie goers some genuinely funny and relatable stars.

To most it might seem like Tina Fey's success in Hollywood (thanks to stints on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock) occurred overnight - but in reality, she's worked her butt off (she was a writer on SNL long before she was seen on-screen) to become one of the most bankable comedians - male or female - in the world.

Teaming up SNL pals Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Baby Mama tells the story of successful and single 37-year-old businesswoman Kate Holbrook (Fey) who has long put her career ahead of a personal life.

She is starting to get clucky, but is thrown into disarray after she discovers she has a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant (thanks to a "T-Shaped Uterus" that her doctor "Just Doesn't Like").

In a last ditch effort, Kate turns to surrogacy and lands herself in a good ol' fashioned "Odd Couple" situation with white trash surrogate mother (or is she?) Angie (Poheler).

Unlike her first foray onto the silver screen in Means Girls, which she penned and cameoed in, Baby Mama is an out an out "Name Brand" comedy.

In the same way folks flock to cinemas based purely on the fact it's a "Will Ferrell / John C. Riley movie", or a "Dan Akroyd / Bill Murray movie" whether they know what the premise is or not (or even if it's funny or not), Baby Mama is the first step forward in what will hopefully be many, many more "Fey / Poehler" comedies.

The two share such a great chemistry, with Tina Fey playing the straight wo-man to Poehler's idiotic adult. What makes the teaming even better is that Fey garners her fair share of laughs as well (something the "comedy straight-man" is never usually given the opportunity to experience), making it a much more fruitful comedy experience.

Also, Fey is just so normal and likable as well (a trait which many female comedians seems to lack), she is the female equivalent of the gawky "every-man" and this film really does prove she has the skills to carry a film.

That said, the movie does take quite a while to get up and running and delivering consistent laughs (Steve Martin is one of the few early highlights) - but once romance enters into the fray, Baby Mama really hits it's stride.

The movie does get fairly formulaic at times, which the mums and couples in the crowd will love, but it still manages to possess enough originality and unique "Fey/Poehler" comedic integrity to make sure we all know who the stars are - and why.

A truly superb cast including the aforementioned Steve Martin, Sigourney Weaver and Greg Kinnear (as well as a bunch of cameos from some of the better current SNL alumni) which makes this one of the better comedies doing the rounds - and most importantly, it's a comedy with comedians that girls can finally claim as their own.

3 out of 5

Baby Mama
Australian release: 21st August, 2008
Official Site: Baby Mama
Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, Greg Kinnear
Director: Michael McCullers