BABES follows inseparable childhood friends Eden (Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau), having grown up together in NYC, now firmly in different phases of adulthood. When carefree an single Eden decides to have a baby on her own after a one-night stand, their friendship faces its greatest challenge. BABES delves into the complexities of female friendship with a blend of laughter, tears and labor pains.
REVIEW:
Pamela Adlon’s latest directorial effort, “Babes,” is a film that oscillates between moments of genuine humor and heartfelt emotion, but also struggles with pacing and cohesion. The movie, which stars Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau, delves into the complexities of pregnancy and female friendship with a raw and unapologetic lens.
On the positive side, Adlon’s direction brings a refreshing authenticity to the screen. The performances by Glazer and Buteau are standout, capturing the messy, hilarious, and sometimes uncomfortable realities of impending motherhood. The film’s comedic elements are sharp, often drawing from lived experiences that many will find relatable and laugh-out-loud funny.
However, “Babes” is not without its flaws. The narrative feels disjointed at times, with a series of vignettes that, while individually engaging, do not always coalesce into a seamless story. The film’s tone fluctuates, sometimes jarringly, between lighthearted comedy and more serious, introspective moments. This inconsistency can make the nearly two-hour runtime feel both overstuffed and superficial.
In conclusion, “Babes” is a film of contradictions. It offers a candid and often hilarious look at pregnancy and friendship, bolstered by strong performances and Adlon’s keen directorial eye. Yet, its uneven pacing and tonal shifts may leave some viewers feeling disconnected. For those willing to embrace its imperfections, “Babes” provides a raw and entertaining cinematic experience.
Babes gets a 3.0/5 or a B. It’s streaming on Hulu.
CREDITS:
Directed by
Written by
- Ilana Glazer
- Josh Rabinowitz
Produced by
- Ilana Glazer
- Josh Rabinowitz
- Susie Fox
- Ashley Fox
- Breean Pojunas
Starring
- Ilana Glazer
- Michelle Buteau
- John Carroll Lynch
- Oliver Platt
- Sandra Bernhard
- Stephan James
- Hasan Minhaj
Cinematography
Jeffrey Kim
Edited by
- Annie Eifrig
- Elizabeth Merrick
Music by
- Jay Lifton
- Ryan Miller
Production
companies
- FilmNation Entertainment
- Range Media Partners
- Starrpix
Distributed by
Release dates
- March 9, 2024(SXSW)
- May 17, 2024(United States)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
Country
United States
Language
English
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