Baby Mama and What Happens in Vegas: Movie Review and Contrast
This past weekend, my friend and I were at the movies and facing a dilemma. We knew we both wanted to see a silly comedy, but couldn’t choose between Baby Mama and What Happens in Vegas. Both looked like good movies worth seeing for a laugh, but we were split on which one to spend the money on—he was for What Happens in Vegas, I was decidedly for Baby Mama.
So we decided to see both the same day. Here is my review and contrast of both movies.
Characters
When you’re talking about a funny movies, the actresses and actors are everything. I wanted to see Baby Mama because I am somewhat of a Saturday Night Live fan, and I know how stupid both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler can be on that show. Their biting humor is what attracted me to this movie, and they did not disappoint. Fey’s character was supposed to be an uptight, business woman type, but I liked the fact that the writer gave her sarcastic lines and comebacks throughout the movie to bounce off of the equally neurotic and sarcastic Poehler character.
The combo of Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz In What Happens in Vegas seemed like it would be something like “the dream team,” but I was a little disappointed. I feel as if the writers didn’t give them good enough lines.
So the winner between these two movies as far as characters is definitely Baby Mama.
Plot
Both of these movies had clever plots. Baby Mama told the tale of woman who hires a surrogate mother and lives with her, having to deal with all of the common woes that come with Baby Mama’s, except they are both women. In What Happens in Vegas, a couple married in Vegas if forced to stay married if they want to keep the $3 million they won while there.
As far as creativity, I would have to say that the plot of What Happens in Vegas would win, but if we are talking about execution, Baby Mama wins that battle.
Ending
The ending of both movies was easy to predict, but hey, these are comedies after all! They are not deep movies that are supposed to change our lives. Without revealing how each ends, I will just say that Baby Mama went through a lot more intensive twists and turns before getting to that final ending, whereas What Happens in Vegas almost ended too quickly. One minute we are in their tormented married life, and the next we are back in court (six months later) to find out the final verdict. I just felt that the producers could have spent more time crafting the story and ending.
Obviously my choice between both movies leans towards Baby Mama (and my companion agreed) due to the fact that it was better written and executed.
