Neither as good as its beautiful, talented, funny leads deserve nor as bad as its trailers imply, Bad Moms is simultaneously insulting to mothers while also being more honest than most cinematic depictions of motherhood. Amy (Mila Kunis) is struggling to be a perfect wife, mother and employee. When challenged by alpha mom Gwendolyn James (Christina Applegate), Amy teams up with single mom Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and odd stay-at-home mother of four Kiki (Kristen Bell at her most appealing since “Veronica Mars”) to be the best bad moms they can be. 

Whenever the movie lets the lead trio ad lib and interact with one another irrespective of the plot, Bad Moms rocks. If you do not laugh at Hahn and Bell’s routine equating a hoodie with an uncircumcised penis, you need to loosen up. Unfortunately, the writing-directing duo of Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (The Hangover Trilogy and 21 & Over) impose their unoriginal bully narrative on everyone; Applegate is practically strangled by it. An “ugh” factor is hard to shake, too, as these proceedings were scripted and overseen by two dudes, who, one presumes, at least have mothers. At least the end credits provide some honest mommy moments.