"Baby Mama" is a mildly amusing tale of a high-powered business executive (Tina Fey) who can't have children, and the manufactured housing - OK, trailer trash - surrogate mother she hires (Amy Poehler). These two give credible performances: Fey is fetching and smart, and Poehler is such a lowlife that you want to throttle her. There are some nice smaller roles: Greg Kinnear provides some welcome warmth as the ex-lawyer juice bar owner, Romany Malco does a wonderful turn as the doorman, and Steve Martin is a delight as Tina's self-absorbed New-Age boss.
But the story by writer/director Michael McCullers delivers neither the punch of his Austin Powers scripts, nor the warmth expected from such a subject. The complications and deceptions are clumsily drawn, and climactic scenes are awkwardly staged. Interestingly enough, the office and business scenes at the organic grocer where Tina works are much more believable and well-written, even with Steve Martin's name-dropping, pony-tailed shenanigans. On the other hand, the movie doesn't overstay its welcome, and provides a few memorable scenes.
Rated PG-13. 99 minutes. Michael McCullers - Director / Writer, John Goldwyn - Producer, Lorne Michaels - Producer, Daryn Okada - Cinematographer, Jeff Richmond - Composer, Bruce Green - Editor.
Principal actors: Amy Poehler , Tina Fey, Greg Kinnear , Dax Shepard, Romany Malco , Sigourney Weaver, Steve Martin.
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