The stretch marks of female friendships have their ups and downs. The true test of best friends is its elasticity, endurance over time, distance and life situation. BABES is a female buddy pic of two childhood friends, Eden (Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau) who grew up together in NYC. Both women are pushing 40. Dawn is about ready to deliver her second baby. She's a dentist, happily married, lives in a brown stone on the UWSand fully ensconced in family life. Eden is more of a free spirit, unattached and teaches yoga from her studio apartment in Astoria. Their logistics have broadened along with their differing stages in adulthood. Needless, the bond between these two bodacious babes seems unbreakable until Eden's unexpected pregnancy and her unlimited demands on Dawn's limited free time cause a rupture in the structure of their relationship. Will their friendship weather this labor? How will Eden manage pregnancy and parenthood? This is not your light and charming Nora Ephron comedy fare. It's a slick, dark comedy overflowing with bawdy female humor that is LOL. The jokes keep coming in hard, fast waves along with sight gags on childbirth, breastfeeding and postpartum detritus. Stellar comic scenes include Dawn's labor pains in a NYC restaurant, a nanny freaking out and Eden's doula interviews. The non-stop garrulous banter is reminiscent of BOOK SMART and GILMORE GIRLS but with older, more mature women. Glazer and Butuea are pros in the entertainment world. Both are stand-up comedians and recipients of Tony and Critics' Choice Awards. They are pitch perfect in their comedic timing and affecting in their sensitive portrayals of devotion, hurt and acceptance. Oliver Platt has a small role as Eden's agoraphobic father that is touching beyond words. John Carrol Lynch is hysterical as Eden's gynecologist who is understanding and self-effacing. Hasan Minhaj is marvelous as Dawn's dazed husband. There are casting boons as with the comedy twins Keith and Kenny Lucas and Sandra Bernhard. BABES is not for newbies. This is a racy, raunchy rom/com where the two leads are vivacious women trying to live their best lives. Their lives are enriched having chosen one other as sister I recommend renting this sisterhood flick. It's a raucous, clever comedy which is also poignant and tender.
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