Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: BABIES [Toronto International Film Festival - Toronto, Ontario]
"Babies" [World Premiere/Gala Presentations] is an interesting but direct title that is more specific in its idea of how we look at motherhood and families. Like “Closing Njght” but from a completely different perspective it examines loss while in the midst of joy...indecision marked by a clear view. Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick are wonderfully paired as a husband and wife in LA who have been together for 17 years but still haven’t had kids since that was no part of their plan or never the right time. Of course this is something about star Rogen and his wife Lisa Miller Rogen who writes and directs him in this have talked about and the media has covered. They don’t have kids so obviously this is a very poignant subject and yet done succinctly and efficiently with a light touch and a knowing. There are a great amount of character actors within the mix her who have different views and different approaches. The voice overs are just done enough so it gives a balanced view. Kendrick holds a lot of the angst but she is also dealing with a mom in the advanced stage of Alzheimer's (see "Closing Night" as well) but she is trying to help her dad and yet look to him as a parent.
While this is inherently told as an LA story (who could afford their house or their friends?), it does show really how a good relationship works. There will always be struggles. Miller Rogen shows a very efficient touch and her husband knows exactly how to play it (which is not too far off his own persona) as does Kendrick. She asks all the right questions but the realization doesn’t happen until later on (again like "Closing Night). However this is much more palpable (than "Closing Night") and definitely much different. People live their lives in different ways and trying to understand isn’t as hard as accepting. David Strathairn gives a nice turn and there is a quick one scene cameo from Sharon Stone. But it is the light dance and lean that Kendrick and by extension Rogen do that anchor the film’s trajectory. These two people are whole together. A baby might be right or not but it is about watching them weigh the pros and cons and look at each other for the right guidance, not because they need to. 86%/B+
By Tim Wassberg
