The Babymakers
Crude, mostly unimaginative comedy is meant for adults.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Babymakers is an occasionally funny but mostly crass indie comedy (directed by a veteran of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe) that examines a couple's attempts to get pregnant. It's very sex-centric -- expect lots of jokes (and gestures) about masturbation and various sex acts, scenes showing a couple in sexual positions (though not totally naked), discussions about sex, photos of a naked woman; and one full-frontal shot of a man. Characters also drink, reference pot smoking, dish out sexist punchlines, and swear a lot, including "f--k" and lots more.
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What's the Story?
At their five-year anniversary, Audrey (Olivia Munn) and her husband, Tommy (Paul Schneider), decide the time is right to start their family. Unbeknownst to them, deciding is the easy part -- actually getting Audrey pregnant proves to be a mountain of a challenge. Doctors think Tommy's sperm is the problem, but Tommy doesn't believe it. After all, he donated to a sperm bank to raise money for Audrey's engagement ring, and he was deemed a suitable candidate then. Tommy's convinced that he needs to get the last batch of his long-ago donations to save his marriage and finally become a dad for real. But how to get that job done?
Is It Any Good?
There's not a lot about THE BABYMAKERS to recommend. Sure, Munn continues to impress (though given her intelligent turn in The Newsroom, it's a puzzler why she took this on), and Schneider's kinetic energy is infectious. But the very uneven material -- sometimes hilarious, too-often tired or sexist -- doesn't live up to the cast's talents.
Masturbation jokes -- and anything remotely related to the subject -- and other petty vulgarisms are what passes for funny here. It's not the sperm count that's the problem here; it's the laugh count.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Babymakers' reliance on sexual imagery and crass jokes. Is that necessary for the movie's story/humor? How does it compare to other over-the-top comedies you've seen?
Why does everyone think they have a say in Audrey and Tommy's personal life? Is this the way infertility is discussed in real life? Do you think people dealing with infertility in real life are likely to find it funny?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 3, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: September 18, 2012
- Cast: Kevin Heffernan, Olivia Munn, Paul Schneider
- Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
- Studio: Millennium Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 98 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: crude and sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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The Switch
OK romcom centers on sperm donation, single parenthood.
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Knocked Up
Raunchy but tender comedy about sex and parenthood.
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What to Expect When You're Expecting
All-star cast headlines bawdy, inconsistently funny comedy.
For kids who love comedy
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