The premise was fun. I even overlooked the fact that this was a "chick flick", because I've been pleasantly surprised by female lead comedies before. Talented actors, buddy crime, good cinematography, and full budget. What's to lose?
The problem is this film has way too many logical errors, and strongly unlikable characters. The lead role played by Kristen Bell is in a pathetic, loveless marriage. It makes ZERO sense why they would try to have a baby, or why they have any relationship at all. She randomly stays without so much as an argument. The husband is a joke of a strict IRS worker who is totally miscast. Then after she makes her secret fortune with her bestie, she STAYS in the marriage, but gets herself artificially impregnated with someone else's sperm. I'll repeat, the women in a terrible marriage finds empowerment and fortune from her crimes, decides to impregnate herself from a random man, but stays in the marriage for husband to raise! Their inevitable split doesn't happen until way after sanity has left.
The buddy duo of Postal Inspector and Loss Prevention Officer has some good moments, but kinda mediocre in total.
Now for the other half of our female duo, Jojo. A black woman that is stuck living with her mom. She is an equal to her Caucasian friend in almost all aspects of the story and the planning of the scam. Her character was fun throughout most of the film, and a nice counterbalance to her co-conspirator. A few other reviews were very upset about "woke" messages from this character. I kept waiting to be offended, but it didn't happen. If anything, I'd just say it's cliche these days to keep the POC characters mildly complaining about habits of white people. Just lazy is all.
I always give at a 5 if the film is Proffesionally done, and not horribly written. So a 6 just means it has a little entertainment value. Basic Hollywood comedy.
The problem is this film has way too many logical errors, and strongly unlikable characters. The lead role played by Kristen Bell is in a pathetic, loveless marriage. It makes ZERO sense why they would try to have a baby, or why they have any relationship at all. She randomly stays without so much as an argument. The husband is a joke of a strict IRS worker who is totally miscast. Then after she makes her secret fortune with her bestie, she STAYS in the marriage, but gets herself artificially impregnated with someone else's sperm. I'll repeat, the women in a terrible marriage finds empowerment and fortune from her crimes, decides to impregnate herself from a random man, but stays in the marriage for husband to raise! Their inevitable split doesn't happen until way after sanity has left.
The buddy duo of Postal Inspector and Loss Prevention Officer has some good moments, but kinda mediocre in total.
Now for the other half of our female duo, Jojo. A black woman that is stuck living with her mom. She is an equal to her Caucasian friend in almost all aspects of the story and the planning of the scam. Her character was fun throughout most of the film, and a nice counterbalance to her co-conspirator. A few other reviews were very upset about "woke" messages from this character. I kept waiting to be offended, but it didn't happen. If anything, I'd just say it's cliche these days to keep the POC characters mildly complaining about habits of white people. Just lazy is all.
I always give at a 5 if the film is Proffesionally done, and not horribly written. So a 6 just means it has a little entertainment value. Basic Hollywood comedy.