BABES (2024)

Directed By: Pamela Adlon 

Written By: Ilana Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz 

Cinematography: Jeffrey Kim 

Editor: Elizabeth Merrick and Annie Eifright

Cast: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, Hassan Minhaj, John Carroll Lynch, Stephen James, Oliver Platt, Sandra Bernhard, Elena Ouspenskaia 

Lifelong friends Eden and Dawn, one single and wanting a baby, the other already a mother, navigate challenges to their bond when Eden pursues pregnancy alone after a one-night stand.


This film should have been a slam dunk but it seems like there are two forces working against each other throughout. Where on the one hand you have more raunchy comedy and outlandish moments. That is more par for the course when it comes to star Ilana Glazer. The film carries that sensibility. Which works but at times seems more shocking at times and somewhat truthful.

Yet the direction and tone of the movie fits director Pamela Adlon’s series BETTER THINGS. Which can be funny and humorous as well as truthful. It mixed in with a dark tone with sentimentality. Works half the time but then at other times seem to be battling each other.

The film does manage to entertain the audience and get them to care and even feel emotional in the third act. 

This film works better than Ilana Glazer’s last starring role FALSE POSITIVE. Here she is charming and slowly coming into her own. Though wish the film could be as hilarious as its trailer seemed. Though it seems to soften quickly. 

Michelle Buteau is solid, believable, and funny as always. 

The film isn’t bad. It will get you teary towards the end, and it really drives home there. Where it offers a look at motherhood and single motherhood. That would also feel like a bunch of downtown comedians got together and tried to make a film, though with more heart but plenty of comedy.

It would have been nice if we could have spent more time with the baby’s father and his fate was handled better, rather than just kind of a joke. 

While this might seem like a harsh review. I will admit that I am not the ideal audience for this film, but like many who will watch it. It does remind one of those special close friendships. 

Grade: C

CRUSH (2022)

 Directed By: Sammi Cohen 
Written By: Kristen King & Casey Beckham 
Editor: Melissa Remebalich-Aperlo

Cast: Rowan Blanchard, Auli’i Cravalho, Isabella Ferreira, Tyler Alvarez, Teala Dunn, Rico Paris, Aasif Mandvi, Michelle Buteau, Megan Mullally, Addie Weyrich

An aspiring artist and high school student who is forced, against her will, to join her high school track team. However, the situation isn’t entirely bad, as it gives her an opportunity to pursue a girl that she has had a long-term crush on. However, things get even more complicated when she finds that she is falling for another teammate entirely. Soon she will see what real love feels like.


This is the most agreeable teen film I have ever seen. As it seems most of the characters have open sexualities. Though this movie is definitely centered around the teen LGBTQ community or at least the characters. Most of the characters are teenagers and the few adults seem more quirky and horns than anything. So they never come Off as imposing and definitely not in control. 

Especially Megan Mullally who is the main character, an enthusiastic oversexed sex-positive mom. Who seems similar to Emma Stone’s parents in EASY A. 

Nice to see Rowan Blanchard back on the big screen and in a leading role no less. She is not as out there as she was in the show GIRL MEETS WORLD, but here has a more solid character to play. Who you root for throughout the film. 

It is a wonder why the main character is so shy when it seems like every character is supportive throughout the film. This school seems to have no bullying or even a social class system. As everybody hangs with everyone and the worst thing that can happen is not being LGBTQ but into a renaissance.

Even the straight kids seem to be the minority. Speaking of which it is noticeable that this film is diverse. As most of the cast is made up of different races and it is never brought up. So that it feels like a breath of fresh air 

The film is predictable as a girl meets a girl tale and while trying to go after her crush realizes she is more compatible with someone. She never expected and luckily the crush isn’t some kind of evil or vapid character, just not who she wants when she wants her. 

The film moves fast and is so good-hearted and cute it is hard to be mad at it. It keeps you fully entertained while you wait for the inevitable and makes you care when it hits the familiar beats. Where you want everything to work out for everyone. 

Even the characters who seem or come off as stereotypes prove to have some depth and character.

While this film matches the good-hearted romantic comedy teen movies that have become a growing genre on streaming. This film is one of the rare ones where it feels like this could have been released in theaters and found a loyal audience. It’s not as strong or dramatic as some of the others and not as believable but it does entertain and offer characters to either identify with or wish you had in your life.  

Grade: B-

ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE (2019)

Always Be My Maybe Ali Wong, Randall Park Credit: Ed Araquel/Netflix

Directed By: Nahnatchka Khan
Written By: Ali Wong, Randall Park & Michael Golamco
Cinematography: Tim Suhrstedt
Editor: Lee Haxall 


Cast: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves, Michelle Buteau, Susan Park, Vivian Bang, Charlene Yi, Daniel Dae Kim, Casey Wilson, Karan Soni, James Saito, Lyrics Born 


A pair of childhood friends end up falling for each other when they grow up.

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SOMEONE GREAT (2019)

somethinggrat

Written & Directed By: Jennifer Kaytin Johnson
Cinematography: Autumn Eakin
Editor: Mollie Goldstein & Jeffrey Wolf 

Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, DeWanda Wise, Lakeith Stansfield, Michelle Buteau, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Rupaul, Rosario Dawson, Jaboukie Young-White, Questlove, Jesse Reyez 


After a devastating break up on the eve of her cross-country move, Jenny enjoys one last NYC adventure with her two best pals. Someone Great is a romantic comedy about love, loss, growth and the everlasting bond of female friendship.

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