Bad Moms

This film is funny -- and fun, thanks to its three main stars -- but a perfect movie, it's not. Which isn't to say you shouldn't see it anyway, beause there's enough here to leave you in a good mood after the credits roll. First, there's Bad Moms' celebration of sisterhood -- in this case, the friendship between Amy, Kiki, and Carla. Though the latter two are rendered with far less nuance than Amy, their friendship resonates, in part because audiences will identify with their shared journey. Many moms will recognize the pressures that Amy faces in the film; as the heart and soul of the movie, Kunis infuses her with enough gravitas that she's completely relatable, even if the situations she finds herself in may be caricatured.

But the movie's potency -- and its humor -- are diluted by shortcuts the film takes: "Bad mommy" moments are lumped together, so what's merely mortal (having kids who haven't bathed in a while) is presented as on par with things that are more disturbing and perhaps downright upsetting, like alcoholism (yes, we know it was a joke, but still) and outright neglect. And the men? They're pretty much portrayed as useless, misogynistic, or downright moronic. The one father who stands out is lauded primarily for his looks and prowess in bed. (Objectification much?) Still, Bad Moms is fun to watch -- take the insights when they're offered, and try to ignore the stereotypes and spot-them-a-mile-away jokes.