Movie review: BABES
When I learned that I would have the opportunity to watch the new movie BABES with Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau all about the power of close friendships in motherhood, my first move was a group text to my mom friends to see who wanted to come watch it with me. Everyone quickly replied that they were IN and thus began the exchange of who would bring the snacks and wine. While my friends and I are now out of the intense early parenthood stages that the characters of Eden and Dawn are in the movie, everyone was transported back to those early weeks and months of the newborn/toddlerhood days. In my many years long role running The Chicago New Moms Group, I seem to be only one who has retained the memories of what those longest, shortest days felt like. This is only because I spend many hours talking to 1st and 2nd time moms who are still “in it.” What hasn’t changed though is the importance of your mom friends as you go through the parenthood journey. Still today with teenagers and kids going off to college, we need each other more then ever.
I should say up front that I loved the movie. Not only was it laugh out loud hilarious, there were many moments that felt 100% relatable. From the anxiety involved with waiting for the results of genetic testing to the sushi in the hospital (placed my order within minutes after both of my children were born) to the struggles to produce milk (one of my friends declared “how many times a day did we have to feed them???”) to the guilt many experience related to the desire to return to paid work and leave the hard work of childcare to others, these are the discussions that moms in The Chicago New Moms Group have regularly. This is the actual reason that I developed the group. Because moms need a place to voice these concerns and find support. The writers of this movie fully hit the nail on the head when thinking about what early parenthood struggles to include in the story.
I very much thought that the long standing friend/family relationship between Ilana and Dawn was almost like its own character in the movie. BABES does a great job of demonstrating the ways in which this relationship changes and shifts as women move through the life changing experiences of pregnancy and parenthood. Those relationships are not always easy. The expectations we have of our friendships before we have children are often very different then the ones we have once we become mothers. While the main focus of the movie was on Eden’s experience of pregnancy and eventual motherhood, I really identified with the challenges that Dawn went through as a working mom of 2 small children trying to balance her responsibilities to her children and her husband with her job and also her friendship with Eden.
I can safely say that moms of both younger and older children can relate to so many aspects of this movie. You will most definitely laugh, you may cry a little, and you will come away knowing that your experience of motherhood has been seen and shared on a big screen for all to grasp how complicated and consuming this stage of life can be. Most importantly though, it is a recognition of the importance of your community of mom friends to support you as you are entering motherhood and are continuing your journey. So tell your partner they are in charge of the kids, call/text your friends and go see BABES!