“Baby Mama,” directed by Michael McCullers, was released nationwide in theaters yesterday, and I had the opportunity to view it last night. My interest in seeing this movie was motivated by its trailer, in which the theme jumped out at me as being original for a film in the comedy genre. Some might disagree, but the last time I saw a movie that dealt with surrogacy in some form was in a melodrama on Lifetime television. Aside from this, the title was catchy, in that “Baby Mama” is a part of the African American vernacular and gave me a sense that this movie would be fresh, edgy, and modern. On the movie poster, the title is juxtaposed with a picture of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, which was quite awkward at first glance when trying to associate both with the term “Baby Mama”.

The main character in the movie was Kate (Tina Fey), a career-minded woman who yearns to have a child at 37 years of age. After hearing her chances for pregnancy are non-existent because of her aged T-shaped uterus, she explores other options and ends up at a surrogacy agency. Enter Angie (Amy Poehler), a young blonde woman who wants to be a surrogate mother for the money. Angie is referred to Kate, and the storyline takes off from there. Be mindful that there are unexpected twists in the plot which keep the viewer intrigued till the very end.

The movie exposed stereotypes and made constant references to class, race, and gender. The characters’ sly remarks and the character roles hinted at society’s hierarchical structure. Kate is anal retentive and is a part of the upper class. Angie, on the other hand, is typical “white trash” as Kate calls her in one particular scene. The gap in classes is brought closer together as we realize that everything aside, they are just two women who want to be fulfilled in life.

Either way, the “girl power” is highly noticeable. Kate’s executive job (which has been known to belong to the white male) and her belief that a woman does not need a man in her life (just a sperm donor) to have a baby, speaks volumes about her independence and coincides with the values of many women. Kate spent a majority of her adult years climbing the corporate ladder to become the Vice President of her company, and in doing so had no balance in her life. This scenario prompts the question: “Can women have it all?”

The jokes are somewhat pointed and raw. In the beginning of the movie, Kate’s mom tells her: “Don’t get a black baby”. Her reasoning for this was that movie stars are always showing off their black children (Brangelina?). Kate also argues that her “single” status is not considered to be an alternative lifestyle, which infers that single people are the minority. Food for thought: Do we have more persons who are “in a relationship” here in the islands rather than “single”? No wonder there is a lack of eligible men.

In any case, I would see this movie again just to catch another glimpse of the long-haired Steve Martin (Kate’s boss) playing his role as an eccentric spiritual guru. Sigourney Weaver’s character (owner of the surrogacy agency) is strange as well, which adds to the craziness. You’ll love the genuine role of Greg Kinnear in this movie (Kate’s boyfriend), and you’ll be irked by Dax Shepard’s character (Angie’s guy).

The 411 Fo’ Reel: “Baby Mama” is a quirky movie and the characters are goofy enough to hold your attention. The laughs are abundant as well. Overall, go see it!

Lights, Camera, ACTION! 

So my love for film flourished from the day I stepped foot in Norris Cinema Theater on the campus of the University of Southern California for my first day of Cinema 190.  My professor was the Alma and Alfred Hitchcock Chair of American Film, the infamous Dr. Drew Casper.  From this moment, it occurred to me that my exposure to cinema was limited, and I was a film virgin of sorts.    Film was more than going to the movies with mom and aunty and stuffing my ‘opu with the ‘ono kine ‘ohana sized popcorn that we spent way too much money for at the concession stand (don’t forget the furukake, arare mix, and sprinkles of li hing mui that was somehow snuck into an oversized bag before we left the house).  Film, I quickly learned, was an experience.  It was a way of escaping the reality that we so passively embrace as humans, and embarking into the realm of the unknown.   We sit in a darkened theater and become voyeurs of an art that is more potent in production value to the trained eye, than just simply a form of entertainment. 

Take 1: During my hanabada days, the extent of my movie-going experiences was limited to outings to Cinerama a.k.a Varisty Twin Theaters.  The theaters were a close enough distance from Maryknoll School, which allowed the entire student body to conveniently walk over there to have our last hurrah once every year before Christmas break began.  On one particular occasion, the movie was Maverick, a western film, which proved to be an unappreciated genre to a bunch of grade schoolers. 

Take 2: I must admit though, that I was, and continue to be, a fan of Blockbuster rentals.  I remember being around 7 years old when my family would make pit-stops at the Waianae Blockbuster to browse through shelves of VHS boxes before we headed to our weekend home in Makaha.  My dad was a fan of comedies, I liked the hopeless romantic chick flicks, and my mom was a melodrama maniac.  My brothers are your go-with-the-flow local boys who could have cared less what we rented as long as there was some ‘macho’ tough guy scenes inserted here or there; a few explosion sequences satisfied this prerequisite. 

Take 3: Fast forward once again to my days at USC.  I enjoyed my Cinema 190 class so much that I decided to earn my minor in the subject matter.  I majored in Political Science and sometimes both areas of my studies overlapped, like when I enrolled in Politics in Film.  I watched hours on end of movies that ranged from The Paper Chase to A Civil Action, but did not cease to include some sci-fi action, as was seen in The Minority Report.  

Take 4:  As I watched a countless number of movies, I was entranced by characters I had never met before in movieland.  I sang “Que Sera” with Doris Day in The Man Who Knew Too Much, I dodged a plane with Cary Grant in North By Northwest, and I was enthralled with the notion of the free world with Eddie Murphy in Coming to America.

Take 5: In Hawaii, there has always seemed to be a disconnection with film culture, and I don’t mean moviegoing. I mean a raw, back-in-the-day appreciation for film.  We are currently gaining more access to cinema education in our islands, especially with the implementation of the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  This blog will allow me and others to utilize another medium of film discussion and to promote cinema awareness that will range from film criticism to film events.  

It’s a Rap!

E Komo Mai!  Welcome to my movie blog!  If you are a moviegoer and share the same passion for cinema as I do, then you have found your niche here in the blogging community.  I will watch some of the newest releases at the box office and give you my thoughts on these movies.  I want to give this blog a “local” feel, which is inherent in its title.  Please join in on the discussion and leave me comments about my postings.  Also, let me know about any particular movies that are coming out soon that you may want me to view or film events that are taking place in the islands that are of interest to you.  As my blog evolves, I will try to encompass a larger variety of topics in relation to film in my entries.  My subsequent posting will give you some insight into my love for cinema and then we’re off to the theater this weekend!  A Hui Hou!