It's about time women reclaim the highs, lows, and the grossness that is being pregnant. Babes is a laugh-out-loud comedy about friendship and motherhood where there is no such thing as TMI.

Babes Movie Review

Pregnancy is something that has been politicized, sanctified, and labeled taboo for what feels like forever. It's about time we reclaim this experience. Yes, it's special and can be lovely but it's also gross as hell sometimes. True friendship is equally a complication of highs, lows, and everything in between. Babes is a comedy that on the surface seems like it's all about pregnancy but it's more than that. It's a story about authentic sisterhood, motherhood, and saying the things out loud that society for years has been afraid to even whisper. Here, there is no such thing as TMI– thank god.

Motherhood can be a witch. So what happens when two lifelong besties enter that new phase of life with very different circumstances? Babes follows Dawn (Michelle Buteau) and Eden (Ilana Glazer), two friends who consider themselves sisters. Their bond appears unbreakable, stronger even than the one Dawn has with her husband Marty (Hasan Minhaj). But just as Dawn is about to give birth to her second child, the craziest thing happens– Eden accidentally gets pregnant from a one night stand. This happens because someone wasn't paying close attention in school. With the flow of their friendship disrupted thanks to postpartum feelings, raging hormones, and the stress of life, these two will either have to learn to grow or call it quits. 

Pamela Adlon, making her feature film directorial debut, uses her experiences as an actor to truly capture the comedy and in-your-face factor of the characters, particularly Eden. The chemistry between the leads though surely made her job easier or harder if her laughing made directing difficult. These two women were so great together I would love to know how much of it was actually scripted by Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz versus how much was improvised in the moment. Either way, this is one of the funniest r-rated comedies I've seen in awhile. 

Glazer and Buteau are two of the most recognized comedians today. Both of these women have taken pieces of their respective performances on Broad City and Survival of the Thickest, to imbue in their Babes characters. Buteau adds some seriousness into Dawn, but she still has a wild side under the baby vomit and desires a break from the monotony of routine. Glazer meanwhile plays Eden with a frenetic energy, she's playful, unserious, and content despite not having her life together in the eyes of her loved ones. These two have a special friendship, the kind that those of us fortunate to have will recognize immediately. There are really no boundaries or fear of oversharing. Whether it's checking to see how dilated our friend's cervix is or texting pictures of poo, they communicate about it all. Including a conversation debating  if a “light p*ssy drizzle” equates to water breaking. I recommend not drinking anything during this scene because you will either spit it out or choke. 

But it's not all fun and games because neither is life. There are always going to be bumps in the road of any long-lasting relationship. Major life changes, like getting married or having a baby, can be the equivalent of a massive pothole. Dawn's marriage and first child doesn't seem to have dampened their bond but the cracks are there. After all, Dawn and her husband have moved into a brownstone and are living a life that moves in contrast to Eden's. But with a second baby, and all the drama that comes with it (parents of more than one child can attest), their friendship starts to feel the strain. Limits are reached when Eden suddenly becomes pregnant and at first believes that that fact changes nothing.

Both of these women are approaching motherhood differently and honestly that's okay. It's a good thing to see varying styles because that's reality. I don't parent  exactly like another and neither do you. As long as our children are healthy and happy then that's okay. The movie doesn't favor one mother over the other, splitting its time between the two to show a complete picture of their lives. They both get nice character development that feels natural to their story. The conflict comes when they both attempt to rediscover themselves and how their new lives either work or don't work within their friendship. This may seem like it would weigh down the momentum and enjoyment but Babes deals with it all through a lens of humor and compassion for the women in our lives. 

None of this would work however without the incredible chemistry between Glazer and Buteau. Not only do they have a sense for when to infuse levity into the drama but they also just play off of each other insanely well. Whether they are using a curse word to communicate multiple feelings or tripping on ‘shrooms, you can't help but laugh with them. What makes Babes truly special is that it's not just about baby drama but it's an honest depiction of friendship in your 30s and beyond. When the carefree days of partying are over and life sets in, friends must grow together or they grow apart. It tackles the pressure society places on women to “do it all” and “be it all” for everyone and everything but themselves. It's not always fun, it's not always glamorous and thankfully Babes doesn't sugarcoat how much it sucks sometimes. But it's a buddy comedy so all this honesty is paired with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments that are guaranteed to have you thinking OMG same. 

Verdict 

From start to finish, Babes is pure comedic gold. In a world where TMI doesn't exist, this laugh-out-loud comedy about friendship and motherhood is a must watch. From the supporting cast to Buteau and Glazer's brilliant performances, it all works to tell this honest story about two friends who are going through some tough things. It's a blunt look at what it's like to be a mother, a woman, and a friend in todays society. That means the highs, the lows, and especially the gross are on full display and thank God that they are. Someone needed to tell this side of the story and I couldn't think of a better team to bring it to life. 

Babes is in theaters now. It is rated R for sexual material, language throughout, and some drug use with a runtime of 1 hour 44 minutes.