One of the few privileges my wife and I get, as the founders of Dads4Kids, is that occasionally we get to see a preview screening of a new movie because family friendly movie distributors know that we will at least give such a movie a fair hearing.
Some weeks ago I received an excited call from Bill Biddle the CEO of Crossroad Distribution who helped me bring Absent to Australia. “Warwick”, he said, “I have a really good family friendly comedy coming out to Australia called ‘Moms’ Night Out’. Do you want to come and see it and give it a review.”
Moms’ Night Out is a comparatively low budget film at 5 million dollars when you compare it with the average Hollywood movie which costs almost 28 times that and comes in about $139USD million. When looking at a movie you have to compare apples with apples. This is always something to keep in mind.
I generally go to movies in fear and trepidation, whether they are low budget or high budget. Although I love to laugh, as I pointed out last week, and do love comedies, unfortunately most modern comedies rely on smutty humour and pathetic jokes that in most cases are remarkably unfunny.
I have some good news for you in regards to Moms’ Night Out. It is funny and it is family friendly.
In other words it is not filled with embarrassing and smutty toilet humour and I can guarantee you will actually laugh. Moms’ Night Out is centred around the main character mummy-blogger Allyson’s escapades when she goes out on the town with her friends.
“All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a paper bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for three hours—what could go wrong? MOMS’ NIGHT OUT is an endearing true-to-life family comedy that celebrates the beautiful mess called parenting.” Directed by the Erwin brothers and Starring Sarah Drew, Sean Satin, Patricia Heaton, and Trace Adkins, it opens in theatres across Australia in May 29.
View Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evTMOmH-G9w
The real clue to the true quality of this movie comes from the fierce attacks by the critics. Billy Hallowell’s article ‘Moms’ Night Out’ Director Blasts ‘Alarming’ Media Reviews Calling Film ‘Unabashedly Anti-Feminist’ and ‘Borderline Dangerous’tells the story well.
“Movie director Jon Erwin is charging that overt media bias and an inability to understand Christian audiences are at the heart of film critics’ negative reviews of ”Moms’ Night Out,” his new comedy about an evening of chaos when a group of moms attempt to have a fun night on the town.
But despite critics’ reviews, including at least one charge that it’s “anti-feminist,” audience members have raved about the film’s faith and family-friendly message. Eighty-five percent of theatregoers gave “Moms’ Night Out” a positive review on Rotten Tomatoes; it has also earned a 7 out of 10 cumulative rating on the Internet Movie Database.
Erwin, who co-directed “Moms’ Night Out” with his brother Andrew Erwin, told TheBlaze that he’s totally perplexed.
He said his digital team has never seen such positive word-of-mouth on a film, which was screened for 20,000 people before its release. No one ever claimed that it was “anti-feminist,” Erwin said, until the media’s reviews emerged this week.
“We heard over and over again … moms love it,” he said. “They said it was their story.”
But critics have come away with a very different take on the matter. Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com lambasted the film as “depressingly regressive and borderline dangerous,” saying that it “peddles archaic notions of gender roles in the name of wacky laughs.”…
As of Tuesday morning, more than 1.3 million people were talking about “Moms’ Night Out” on Facebook. Here’s a sample of some of the positive comments Erwin said his team has been flooded with:
The critics must have ate sour grapes before reviewing this movie or they never had kids. So many times during the movie I had a “oh, they’ve been watching my life” moment. My gal pals and I couldn’t STOP laughing! – Nicole.
Loved it…twice! But I must confess that although my husband and 2 high school sons loved it, too….they actually said it was a little STRESSFUL! I cracked up! Of COURSE it’s stressful…it’s mom jobs! I laughed all the way through it both times! Love it!– Patricia.
Laughed so hard tonight! You guys-writers as well as the actors- nailed this. Thanks- I needed that! – Jennifer.
Just saw it…such a great movie! Go see it if you can! – Joy.
Erwin said he was “blown away” by the fact that critics seemed to go after stay-at-home moms by claiming that the movie, which simply portrays their lifestyle, is “anti-feminist”. . .
Borrowing words from Walt Disney, Erwin said that despite being stunned by negative reviews, he and his brother are not here to entertain the critics. Instead they’re forging on, encouraged by fans’ positive reviews. . .
Erwin has also passionately spoken out about the need for Hollywood to rediscover its “soul” by producing fulfilling and positive content that helps build moral character.”
Crossroads Distribution asked me to describe “Moms’ Night Out” in a few words. This is what I said,“Moms night out is great night out for a family who enjoys laughing.”
Lovework
Do you love laughter? Then you be the judge of this movie!
Check out where Mom’s Night Out is playing and make up your own mind: http://www.momsnightoutmovie.com.au/theatres
Yours for more Laughing Families
Warwick Marsh
PS. Next Saturday, 31st of May is the National Day of Thanksgiving. We encourage you to check out the resources on the website and go out of your way to develop an attitude of gratitude by thanking everyone you come in contact over the next week. You never know you might pick up a habit and live a healthy longer happy life as a result.
Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation is one of the sponsors of the National Day of Thanksgiving. Saying thank you to your wife and children will help you build a great family. That is why we are asking that you would post a comment and ‘Like’ www.facebook.com/nationaldayofthanksgiving .
Leave A Comment