Sister of the Groom

Women in their 40s may well find plenty to relate to in this "momedy," but skip it for mother-daughter movie night. It really digs into the unflattering realities of being a woman who's dealing with life's middle years, exposing the insecurities, self-doubts, jealousies, and wishful fantasies that some women experience. Audrey's life is kind of like a Facebook feed. From the outside perspective, she seems to have it all: an enviable marriage to a wonderful guy (Tom Everett Scott, also Silverstone's hubby in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul) and two daughters -- a nice family, and a nice life. But on the inside, she's in turmoil, feeling like she's been short changed. Being pregnant with twins left her stomach stretched and saggy, and she's desperate to get an expensive surgery. She let her career as an architect slide so she could be a present mother but now feels like she wasted her talent. Feeling pushed out her brother's life by his beautiful young fiancée, who has the world at her feet, causes Audrey to review her life choices with regret and jealousy.

But the takeaways for teens are all negative: You can "have it all" and still be unhappy, having babies destroys your body, and money can buy happiness. Sure, some adults might think there's some truth in that. But they're not exactly the greatest messages for kids at the beginning of their life's journey. The film also strongly suggests that drugs and alcohol enhance your life. And while Audrey may have her relatable moments, she ultimately treads in illegal and unethical territory that's alarming. As a selection for Moms' Night Out, it's an excellent choice, including the realization that the messiness of emotion in middle life is normal. For everyone else, it's a downer.