Publications
Partners
OUR RATING:
2/5 Stars
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
Toli, Chantel, Sandy and Joy are all in different stages of their own real-life baby mama drama. Chantel discovers that she’s pregnant and her world is turned upside down. Sandy is still in love with the father of her child, but now has to deal with him moving on. Joy has to learn to let go of a relationship that no longer serves her. Toli discovers that the most difficult part of dating as a single mom is deciding how much you are willing to risk your own child’s heart on your path to love.
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
When a movie gets a lot of buzz on social media before it’s screened it makes it very tricky to review, especially if it is a local film. Because there is an expectation, in such circumstances, that writers will overlook any flaws (of the movie in question) in the name of supporting local cinema.
A pressure that I think is very unfair because it leaves no room for personal taste or expression. It seems to dismiss the possibility that someone can like aspects of a film and want it to do well for all those involved while still finding that there is room for improvement.
I find myself in this position with Baby Mamas, which stars Dineo Ranaka, Thembisa Mdoda, Kay Smith and Salamina Mosese among others. The talented group of women are all well-seasoned actors who shine in almost everything in which they star.
They've now teamed up well with young director (and script co-writer) Stephina Zwane, whose previous work includes Love and Kwaito (2016). With a cast and crew of that calibre you have a recipe for total success, at least on paper. Sadly, in actuality the movie falls short of the bittersweet local standout I thought it would be.
While the stars and director achieve some great moments, that did make me laugh at times, the editing lacks pace and some of the dialogue is wooden.
Instead of creating a world of flowing scenes that build to a satisfying end, the film seems to tick along in a staccato fashion that awkwardly ends with some characters getting a more fully fleshed out storyline than others. I was left feeling like I was promised something that wasn’t delivered.
That being said, I think that some of the messages in this film are on point and that most situations portrayed are very relatable. If only the execution were done to a higher standard. I think that this movie is worth watching for people who love our local stars. Alternatively, if you want to support local cinema, check out Ellen Pakkies, Kanarie (when it comes out) or rent Inxeba now.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
