Motherhood (PG-13, 2009)

There’s nothing in MOTHERHOOD that most of us haven’t already seen or read. But what a relief  to hash through it again with empathy and humor. Short on originality but strong in voice and storytelling, this dramedy will have moms (and dads) relieved that an essential truth about parenting -- that on a daily basis, it really can be a numbing grind -- is presented as-is, without the requisite "of course it’s all worth it." The ecstasy outweighs the agony -- many parents say so  -- but too often we feel guilty admitting the downsides.

Thurman goes unpretty here, and though it doesn’t really work (she’s still more glamorous than most moms), she surrenders to the role, and the film is better for it. A scene that has her confronting Avery (Edwards is excellent) is stunning in its authenticity. All the performances are spot on, actually, and a moment that has Eliza reliving her youth under the watchful gaze of an admirer is enervating. Best of all is the movie's faithful rendering of a day in a life of a Manhattan mom. Unlike in reality shows, they’re not all catty housewives. It's just too bad that an unlikely plot point near the end strains the credibility a little too far.