Baby Mama, Starring Tina Fey
A Hit Comedy With Greg Kinnear and Amy Poehler, New to DVD
Sep 11, 2008
Is There Anything Tina Fey Can’t Do?
She is of course well known for her work on Saturday Night Live, and her new show 30 Rock. But this is definitely not her first movie. In 2004 Tina Fey wrote and starred in Mean Girls, a smash hit comedy with Lindsey Lohan and Rachel McAdams. There are some recognizable trends that carry over into Baby Mama: Amy Poehler of SNL fame is in both movies, and both feature Tina Fey as a wise-cracking career woman, who is too busy and controlling to be bothered with relationships. Also, both movies are just brimming with talented comedians. In addition to its main characters, Baby Mama features the work of Steve Martin, Maura Tierney, Sigourney Weaver, and the very funny Romany Malco (Weeds).
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Fight over Pea Soup and Hair Dye
As a woman who has spent thousands of dollars and been through her share of heartache to get pregnant, Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey) is perhaps a bit overprotective of the baby carried by Angie Ostrowiski (Amy Poehler). She begins by bringing over bags of organic groceries, and by the middle of the movie is throwing Angie into the shower when she tries to dye her roots. They even fight throughout the time at their support group for surrogates, earning themselves many not-so-tolerant glances from Chaffee Bicknell (Sigourney Weaver).
If there is one thing they agree on, it is their over the top Lamaze instructor, played by Siobhan Fallon. This class provides the material for several of Poehler’s best moments, such as when the instructor suggests oil lubrication to prepare for the birth and Angie asks loudly if she can just spray a little Pam down there.
Fans of 30 Rock Will Be Thrilled
Anyone who has enjoyed 30 Rock, the mix of corporate comedy and show biz mania, will love this movie. The banter is flawless, the gags sure to inspire gales of laughter. It’s Saturday Night Live humor with a little more wit, a little more subtlety.
Perhaps the main difference here is that on 30 Rock it seems she is given free reign, and may indulge any silliness, any character gag, and does not try for the huge ratings with drama, love stories, or perfect endings. It is only at the end of Baby Mama that things begin to feel somewhat contrived, a little more Hollywood. The close of the movie finds everyone doing the right thing, all suitable couples united, and all babies in deserving hands. Perhaps it is a bit contrived, but it is certainly a happy ending.
