| Baby Mama | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Michael McCullers |
| Produced by | Lorne Michaels John Goldwyn |
| Written by | Michael McCullers |
| Starring | Tina Fey Amy Poehler Greg Kinnear Romany Malco Dax Shepard Maura Tierney Steve Martin Sigourney Weaver |
| Music by | Jeff Richmond |
| Cinematography | Daryn Okada |
| Editing by | Bruce Green |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
| Release date(s) | April 25, 2008 |
| Running time | 99 min. |
| Country | |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30,000,000 |
| Gross revenue | $63,679,245 |
Baby Mama is a 2008 comedy-drama film from Universal Pictures written and directed by Michael McCullers and starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Romany Malco and Dax Shepard.
Contents |
Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey), a successful single businesswoman from Philadelphia, has put her career before her personal life. At the age of 37, she has finally decided to have a child on her own, but her plans change when she discovers she has only the slimmest chance of becoming pregnant. Also denied adoption, Kate hires an immature, obnoxious South Philly girl, Angie Ostrowiski (Amy Poehler), to become her surrogate mom.
When Angie becomes pregnant, Kate begins preparing for motherhood in her own typically driven fashion—until her surrogate shows up at her door with no place to live. Their conflicting personalities put them at odds as Kate learns first-hand about balancing motherhood and career by catering to Angie's childish needs. As if this weren't enough Kate also begins dating the local owner of a blended juice cafe, Rob (Greg Kinnear).
What Kate doesn't know is that Angie is feigning the pregnancy and that in fact the in-vitro fertilization did not succeed. Hoping to ultimately run off with her payment, Angie begins to regret the lie but continually puts off confessing until getting an ultrasound wherein she discovers she is actually pregnant. Realizing the baby is her own (and her husband from whom she is separated -- Angie explains she was so distraught after her pregnancy test was negative that she ended up having sex with her separated husband), Angie is forced to confess at Kate's baby shower. While Kate explains to Angie that the pregnancy test was supposed to be taken two weeks after the procedure, and that the baby could still in fact belong to her, this drives a wedge between the two women.
At the court hearing to definitively determine the maternity of the child, Angie makes an impassioned apology. The baby turns out to be Angie's. Meeting face to face after the proceedings, Angie's water breaks and Kate rushes her to the hospital. During Angie's delivery, Kate passes out. Upon waking she is told that she is pregnant, the result of her relationship with her new boyfriend. After receiving the news, she goes to visit Angie, who is holding her new baby girl Stefani (named for Gwen Stefani), aka "Stef". Kate forgives Angie and the two become great friends
Angie and Kate raise their children and are friends one year later at Stefani's first birthday party. They continue their lives with their babies and Rob and Kate stay together. Carl stays close to his baby, but he and Angie are not together.
Baby Mama received mixed to generally positive reviews from critics. As of April 28, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 61% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 100 reviews, giving the film a "Certified Fresh" rating—with the consensus that the film is "a lightweight, predictable comedy with strong performances."[1] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 55 out of 100, based on 34 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews.[2]
In a review for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, reproductive lawyer Melissa Brisman comments that this movie should be viewed as entertainment rather than as portraying surrogacy in a factual manner. Gestational Carriers are thoroughly screened by most programs and are subject to numerous requirements such as already having their own children, being in a stable relationship or having a strong support system and employment and having a suitable place of their own to live. The biological basis for this movie is also inaccurate. For example, due to close monitoring and medications typically taken to prepare the Gestational Carrier during the embryo transfer procedures, it is not possible for a surrogate to become pregnant with her own biological child.[3]
Baby Mama was released on DVD and Blu-ray September 9, 2008. Extras included commentary with writer/director Michael McCullers and cast members Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, From Conception to Delivery: The Making of Baby Mama Featurette, an alternate ending, deleted scenes, and Saturday Night Live: Legacy of Laughter.
"Baby Mama" available on Video On Demand October 8, 2008 through February 28, 2009.
In its opening weekend, Baby Mama grossed $17,407,110 in 2,543 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking #1 at the box office and averaging $6,845 per theater.[4]
As of July 13, 2008, Baby Mama has grossed a total of $60.1 million in the United States and Canada,[5] over its $30 million budget.
| Preceded by The Forbidden Kingdom |
Box office number-one films of 2008 (USA) April 27, 2008 |
Succeeded by Iron Man |
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