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.

Back to the story, Joy (Diaz) sees her fiancee Mason off in the morning and says that they need to meet later to set their wedding date. He whines that she's planning to make a plan again and leaves for work. We learn Joy is a trader and after work she has a surprise party set up for Mason at his home. As people hide, Mason arrives and breaks up with her (while making comments about great sex with the guests listening as they hide) Joy goes drinking afterward and decides with her friend Tipper that they will use the tickets she bought Mason to go to Vegas for some fun.

Jack (Kutcher) is a sexaholic with a thing for seeing his friend Kelly in skimpy costumes like the sexy girl scout costume she wears at the beginning of the film. Jack is a furniture maker who works for his father who fires him because he can never finish anything he starts. The two compete in a basketball match against each other with Jack's job at stake, his father wins. His friend Hater later recommends a trip to Vegas.

The four of them meet by mistake upon arrival in Vegas when they are placed in the same hotel suite by mistake. They fix the mistake by getting two separate suites of the highest quality. Jack also manages to convince the hotel clerk to give them some VIP passes. As Joy and Tipper are dropped off onto the Vegas strip, Jack begs Joy to have one drink. Joy claims she and Tipper are about to plan their "assault" on the strip. Reminding her of her now ex-fiancee, Jack replies that she's planning to make a plan. Joy stops in her tracks and agrees to have one drink.

This is where the fun begins. I'd LOVE to tell more of the story but I really recommend you see it yourself.

4/5 Novas.