Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines, Christine Baranski, Peter Gallagher, Jay Hernandez, Justin Hartley
This sequel was thrown together so fast you wonder if the script was previously rejected, only to be resurrected after the surprise 2016 hit, Bad Moms was released. I don't know, but while it isn't as enjoyable as its predecessor, it has some moments of tenderness, a few laughs, and some Christmas spirit.
A Bad Moms Christmas doesn't necessarily need you to view the first film to watch this one. It seems to have almost forgotten the initial film altogether. We see Amy (Kunis), once again trying to be the perfect Christmas mom, but finds she is exhausted and wants to dine on Chinese takeout with her family on Christmas. Not so fast, says Ruth (Baranski), Amy's domineering mother who drops by at a moment's notice to spend Christmas with a daughter who is less than enthusiastic to see her. Ruth believes Christmas should be about garish decorations which would rival Clark Griswold's, haughty parties, and having Kenny G. perform as the house act for said party. Amy and Ruth immediately clash because they've been clashing all their lives.
Kiki (Bell) seems to have her house in order when her uber-clingy mother, Sandy (Hines) drops in to spend Christmas with the daughter she all but wishes would be her Siamese twin. Usually children are the ones afraid to cut the umbilical cord, but here it's Sandy, who is not above emotional blackmail and flat out lying about having any number of diseases to keep her daughter close. Carla (Hahn) is still looking for a party and Mr. Right Now instead of Mr. Right, but her shameless schnorrer of a mother, Isis (Sarandon-and couldn't they use any other first name besides that one?) comes by unannounced to spend the holidays because, well, she needs money again.
Only Ruth is accompanied by a husband, the feckless Hank (Gallagher), who is henpecked and barely says a word, but would you be at all surprised to see him dispense crucial wisdom about his wife to his daughter in a moment of need? Hank is a nice guy and far too much of a mensch to have to put up with Ruth. Baranski draws the most laughs as the uptight Ruth, who believes her way is the only way to celebrate Christmas., but of course we know there are issues underneath. The same with the other moms of moms, who figure out numerous ways to exasperate their daughters who only want to get through Christmas in one piece.
Yes, this sequel is a quick cash-in on the success of Bad Moms, but it isn't half bad as far as quick cash-ins go. Yes, the daughters and moms complete dizzying 180 degree about faces in their attitudes toward each other, which is expected in a comedy like this, but that doesn't mean a few of the scenes aren't at least a little sweet if not totally credible. Who knows? Maybe this will become a staple of Christmas viewing in the coming years. Ok, maybe that's pushing it.
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