Babes is an insightful comedy. Its plot meanders and its drama can feel formulaic, but that's forgivable because the script is so honest. It takes unglamorous looks at motherhood while also questioning the line between family and longtime friendship. This fairly brave bluntness deserves respect for advancing conversations. Meanwhile, the jokes are a flavorful blend of observational, absurdism, running gags, and satire. Plus, its use of feminine gross-out humor actually feels refreshing and fitting. The acting adds chemistry, physicality, charisma, delivery, spontaneity, and relatability. Overall, Babes earns viewer investment by bringing up underrepresented perspectives.
Technically, Babes is ordinary but delivers a calibrated tone. Its cinematography is basic, with pops of exaggerated humor. The editing prioritizes comedic timing with montages, jump cuts, and a short runtime. Similarly, distortions and stings are used for audio jokes. Its music uses needle drops, timing, juxtaposition, and jazz scoring to reinforce an upbeat mood. The production design conveys a solid sense of location. Its cast provides representation and talent, despite minor star power. The effects are minimal, amounting to a couple of prosthetics and projectiles. Consequently, Babes may not be a filmmaking powerhouse, but it's still substantive and entertaining.
Writing: 9/10
Direction: 7/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Production Design: 6/10
Casting: 6/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 6.9/10