Babes is the definitive film about pregnancy, motherhood, and adult friendships I never thought I’d see and I’m so thankful to have. Pamela Adlon delivers not just the funniest film of the year so far but the most honest, sincere film as it explores not just motherhood and pregnancy, but adult friendships, how romantic relationships change with kids, and that painful career-parent balance. 

No film has spoken to me directly this year the way Babes did. Pamela Adlon, in her feature-film directorial debut, with a script by star Ilana Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, knocks it out of the park providing the most honest and open film in years about parenthood, pregnancy, and how relationships evolve as responsibilities change all while still being the funniest, raunchiest film of the summer. 

Pregnancy is the opposite of glamourous for most (me included) and Babes never shies away from the ugliest parts of it. Many women spend their entire pregnancies being told it’s the most beautiful experience in the world and then experience something entirely different. Babes felt like a breath of fresh air not only highlighting the horrific pain labor brings but also the truth of life post baby. Relationships, romantic and platonic, all change regardless of how much you don’t want it to. Glazer and Rabinowitz perfectly capture the slow shift in a mother’s life as work, friendships, and romantic relationships all evolve into something completely different. 

Dawn (Michelle Buteau) and Eden (Glazer) have a lifelong bond that no one can break, a husband can’t even begin to compete with it. Babes is so authentic as it embraces the parts of female friendships many never talk about. When Dawn worries her water breaks, Eden is there to lift up her skirt and check. While it’s absolutely hysterical, the moment is genuine reflection of a real friendship between two women who trust each other completely. After Dawn welcomes her second child, Eden finds herself in a very authentic, sweet meet-cute with (the ever dreamy) Stephan James. The set up on paper could come off cheesy but it’s pulled off so perfectly due to the writing and intimate performances at the center from both Glazer and James. 

When Eden learns that her one-night stand has resulted in a pregnancy, she has an honest conversation with herself and Dawn if she can handle being a single mother. The conversation between these two friends is so well done with the discussion of abortion or responsibilities that come with parenthood, Buteau and Glazer deliver each line to perfection making it a real conversation between two lifelong friends. Buteau has a weight to what she pulls off here as Dawn is not only dealing with a newborn and a toddler, but she’s overworked and dealing with many postpartum effects. Dawn has to think about just how hard motherhood is and she has a partner, Eden would be doing this without the support of someone there with every step of the way, which is an entirely different ballgame. 

Babes is not for the weak stomached audience as there are so many bodily fluids and the real pain of what people go through with their bodies to bring a child into the world is on display throughout the film, but that’s what makes this film stand out so much about pregnancy and motherhood. Babes allows you to step out from what our bodies go through and laugh about it after the some of the fouler experiences are over. Adlon allows for these bodily functions to be completely normal and finally shown on film. There’s a moment in the film with a breast pump that will make many former pumpers feel so seen. 

Dawn and Eden’s friendship is put to the test and the honesty in which it is portrayed will mean so much to anyone who has fought with their lifelong bestie. Not only is their friendship portrayed so openly but each character is written to be fully developed with feelings unique to the stage they’re at in their life. Dawn is feeling like a failure as a wife, a mother, and at her job, much like any working parent feels. You always feel spread too thin and as if you’re not winning in any area of your life. While Eden is slowly coming to terms with losing certain parts of your life before your child is officially here and how different your body becomes throughout pregnancy. The screenplay is a standout not just for the funny one-liners but the authenticity of each character.

As a mother, Babes really hit me hard. It’s not just the honesty in presenting motherhood for the way you can experience the best moment of your life with your kid needing you but also how disgusting pregnancy (and post) and changing diapers can also be. The high low experience of parenthood is something not many filmmakers are able to expertly capture but Adlon pulls it off. She delivers an instantly iconic pushback to ‘the perfect mother’ many films have delivered before; a real look at motherhood and all that goes into it. Babes is the definitive film about pregnancy, motherhood, and adult friendships I never thought I’d see and I’m so thankful to have. 

Grade: A-

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: Best Original Screenplay

Release Date: May 17, 2024
Where to Watch: In Theaters