Bad Moms is a 2016 American comedy film directed and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Annie Mumolo, Jay Hernandez, Jada Pinkett Smith and Christina Applegate.
Principal photography began on January 11, 2016 in New Orleans. The film premiered on July 19, 2016 in New York City and was theatrically released on July 29, 2016 by STX Entertainment. It received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed over $56 million.
Plot
Amy Mitchell (Mila Kunis) is a married woman with two children Jane and Dylan who feels over-worked and over-committed. She works as a sales rep for a “hip” coffee company, makes her kids healthy, handpacked lunches, does much of their homework, goes to all of their extracurricular activities, and is active in her school’s PTA, run by the domineering Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate) and her cronies, Stacy (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Vicky (Annie Mumolo). When she catches her husband Mike cheating on her with a dairy farmer via the internet, Amy throws him out and attempts to keep everything together.
After a particularly stressful day, Amy publicly quits the PTA in response to Gwendolyn’s overzealous bake sale plans. At a nearby bar, Amy meets Carla (Kathryn Hahn), a laid back, oversexed single mom, and Kiki (Kristen Bell) a stay-at-home mother of four who admires Amy’s dissent from Gwendolyn. The trio embark on an all-night bender that inspires Amy to loosen up with her kids, taking them for rides in Mike’s classic car, getting them lunch from Arby’s, and taking days off work. Amy and Carla are also irritated to discover that Kiki’s husband is domineering and expects her to take care of all the kids and the house with no assistance whatsoever.
Amy’s actions draw the ire of Gwendolyn, who uses her PTA authority to get Amy’s daughter Jane (Oona Laurence) removed from the soccer team. Amy is angered, and decides to run for PTA president in opposition to Gwendolyn. A meet-and-greet at Amy’s home draws only one visitor, who informs them that Gwendolyn has launched a rival party at her own house, catered by Martha Stewart. In spite of this the other moms swiftly abandon Gwendolyn’s party when it becomes clear that she intends to lecture them all evening, leading to a successful booze-soaked house party at Amy’s.
Gwendolyn responds by planting drugs in Jane’s locker, getting her kicked out of all extracurricular activities on the same day that Amy gets fired. Jane and Dylan both go to stay with Mike (who has agreed to an amicable divorce) in response to what they see as Amy’s failure as a mom. A despondent Amy stays home during the PTA election, but is roused to action by Carla and Kiki, who finally stands up to her husband and orders him to deal with everything alone until the meeting is over. At the event, she gives an inspiring speech about how all the moms are overworked, and that they need to take time off, do fewer and less stressful events, and most importantly, allow themselves to make mistakes. Amy wins by a landslide, and eventually winds up comforting a devastated Gwendolyn.
Some weeks later, Amy’s approach has led to positive changes: Jane is stressing out less, Dylan is actually applying himself, and all of the moms, including Stacy and Vicki, are feeling more energized. Amy herself has gotten her job back with much better compensation, and continues to see Jessie (Jay Hernandez), a handsome widower she bonded with. Gwendolyn has admitted that Amy’s way has merit, and as the film closes, invites Amy, Carla and Kiki for a day of fun on her husband’s private jet.
The credits play over the cast interviewing their real-life moms.