To those in Australia who don’t watch late night TV or those outside of the US unfamiliar with Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey is something of an enigma. Of course, this is largely speaking before a certain Vice-Presidential candidate came into the picture (her Sarah Palin impressions are uncanny, and not just looks-wise). While her role in Mean Girls was slightly more dramatic as the cool, moralistic teacher, the steady rise of the comedy queen came to a peak last year in 2008 with the second season of the Emmy/Golden Globe-winning 30 Rock along with the lead role in Baby Mama.

While Fey is more at home with the small screen (not having ventured into films often), she imitates life to some degree as Kate, a career woman who decides later in life that she wants to be a mother – but doesn’t want to go through the relationship process. Infertility and her busy career as Vice President of an organic supermarket company lead to her choice of surrogacy. Angie (Amy Poehler, SNL cast-mate) is the lucky lady chosen to carry Kate’s baby, but when she shows up homeless on Kate’s doorstep, perhaps it wasn’t the best option. After all, you have to ask the question – how much can you trust a person with something so important?

With comedies like Baby Mama it’s hard to take these situations seriously. When there are two SNL comediennes dealing with pregnancy, the jokes flow right through. When the scenes are meant to be funny, they mostly are, but the dramatic turns get your attention just as easily. As Kate and Angie go through the pregnancy together, there is Angie’s ever-present husband Carl (Dax Shepard) and the secret that could tear everything apart, along with Kate’s own insecurities, even after she meets the small business competition and love interest Rob (Greg Kinnear). Writer and first-time director Michael McCullers has a comedic eye, and with Fey and Poehler he gains his dream actresses. He’s gone for a more personal feel with handheld cameras, and his directorial strength is not overplaying what he chooses to use. The music too is well used – important in complementation but not overbearing. Thankfully he provides a Fey-style script with plenty of wisecracks that aren’t overdone, and with good material Fey and Poehler thrive. For this is really a two-woman show – if Fey has been an enigma until now, then Poehler is certainly in the same boat. She provides the funniest scene when showering to cleanse herself of chemicals; Angie’s outlandishness complimenting Kate’s witty, sarcastic comedic jabs. The character of Angie is both cute and crazy and the switch between her sides is comic in their constant change – a symptom of pregnancy if nothing else.

Pregnancies were hot in Hollywood in 2008 both on and off the screen and with films like Juno, Baby Mama was on the ball in that department. Never one to shy from poking fun at herself, it’s hard not to think whether Fey chose the role as a reflection of where she is professionally and personally. In her first major acting role with no script involvement, she has a wonderful screen presence and that is what elevates Baby Mama that little bit more. Striking but wonderfully ordinary, Fey doesn’t have to try hard to be funny, unlike many of her male counterparts struggling to keep the laughs coming. Greg Kinnear is also great, warranting himself a ‘ladies’ favourite’ tag. A real surprise was Steve Martin, a misfit in recent outings (the Pink Panther remake, anyone?), but his take as Kate’s boss adds laughs to the film and also to an already great supporting cast.

What lacks in this film is perhaps that it’s not what you expect from a typical comedy. If you want to see a film with nude fights or laugh-out-loud degradations, go rent Borat. These ladies are from a different breed and will bring you comedy with heart. As a result, it’s not a laugh-a-minute, but provides a more intelligent funny that makes you think – if you’re unsure what to make of that you may find yourself disappointed.

Conclusion:

Fey and Poehler were put on this planet to work together and provide great comedy. Baby Mama falls a bit short because of its reliance on the two leads but still provides cute charm among the crazy antics.

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