Popcorn Panel: Baby Mama

National Post  Published: Friday, May 02, 2008

Filmmaking is a collaborative art, so why isn't film reviewing? Each week in this space, experts, artists and paying movie customers come together to take apart a recent release. It's salty. It's full of hot air. It's the Popcorn Panel.

This week's panel - Alison Broverman is a writer who was wearing dark-rimmed glasses long before anyone had heard of Tina Fey. - Rebecca Kohler is a Toronto -based stand-up comic and was proud winner of the Citizenship Award two years running (1984, 1985). Can she borrow five bucks? Come on, she really needs it. - Brittany Huntman is a radio DJ in Atlanta, Ga., who has donated her eggs in the name of science (and money).

This week's film Baby Mama

Alison I think Baby Mama would have been a much better film if Tina Fey had written it herself. All the elements are there -- Fey and Amy Poehler are so great together, the premise is promising, and the supporting cast is good. But it all falls flat into cliches. And I'm a bit unsettled by the implicit "everybody gets a baby and then life is awesome" message.

Brittany I was a little disappointed that it was one of those flicks where all of the funny parts are in the trailer. Still, Fey is so funny and quirky. The cameos from Maura Tierney and Sigourney Weaver were worthwhile and believable -- my experience in the infertility industry is that people do tend to be incredibly encouraging and reassuring toward your life choices.

Alison Yeah, Fey is making the transition to film nicely -- her range isn't the broadest, but she's so good at what she does. Weaver's cameo was hilarious but Tierney only got a couple of good moments and they were over way too soon.

Rebecca Tina Fey plays an excellent Tina Fey, but without Amy Poehler this movie would have fallen flat on its face. Weaver's self-satisfied surrogate-mother-pimp got some of my biggest laughs. I agree with Alison about the end: Would it really be good news if you found out you were pregnant by a man you'd only dated for a month? Brittany I disagree with you about Fey. Without her, Poehler's jokes are just potty humour. But Alison, do you really want a stern lecture on values at the end of a comedy? I don't go to see movies like this one for realistic plotlines. I like that it worked out in the end!

Alison It's not the happy ending that bugged me so much as the predictability of the story. I would have liked to see some more original choices in the script. And it made me mad that Angie's (Poehler) emotionally abusive ex showed up at the end, trying to make good.

Rebecca Movies like this are always formulaic. If you want a happy ending in this kind of story, you can't ask for originality. Look at the recent, similar tales Juno and Knocked Up. North Americans don't like facing truths in film; at least not when they want to sell tickets.

Brittany Is this a good time to bring up the intense crush I developed on Rob (Greg Kinnear)? Not especially nuanced, but lovable and dependable. The developing relationship between Kate (Fey) and Rob was believable and endearing.

Rebecca Kinnear got my vote too. I'm waiting for my Rob as we speak; I need someone to move my couch. I liked it a lot more than a few of my male friends did. Was it because it wasn't the greatest movie, or because of the subject matter: Single woman wants a baby!

Next week's film Iron Man popcorn@nationalpost.com

The panel discusses women in comedy online at nationalpost.com/arts

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