Parents' Guide to Moms' Night Out

In many ways, Mom's Night Out is the opposite of I Don't Know How She Does It and other frantic working-mom comedies. Instead of focusing on the harried life of moms who have to balance working outside the home and raising their children, Moms' Night Out follows the just-as-stressful (but, as the filmmakers see it, even more rewarding) life of a stay-at-home mom. The premise has potential, and the trailers feature some of the movie's funnier bits, but once the action starts, viewers will quickly realize that this is very much a Christian film (a fact that may turn off viewers who don't share the filmmakers' faith), like Courageous or Fireproof. (The director of Courageous, Alex Kendrick, even has a supporting role here as Allyson's pastor/Sondra's husband.)

For families who wish there were more faith-based films on the market, this is a fine pick. The movie's central message is that while an at-home mother may struggle to find her way, ultimately she's doing God's work by being home with her children. Unfortunately, the flip side of that message is that fathers are secondary parents who can't figure out how to "babysit" their own children for one night without landing in the emergency room. Also unfortunately, the movie just isn't very funny. Drew, who's known as the perky Dr. Kepner on Grey's Anatomy, plays Allyson as too shrill and controlling to be empathetic, and pretty much the only likable character is tattoo parlor owner Bones, played by country singer Trace Adkins. Moms deserve a funnier night out a the movies!