Anna Kendrick and Seth Rogen Star in 'Babies,' a Comedy

The film 'Babies' tackles the intrusive question often posed to couples: are you going to have kids? Premiering at the Toronto film festival with a release set for 2027, the comedy stars Anna Kendrick and Seth Rogen as a Los Angeles couple wrestling with the decision. According to a review in The Guardian, writer-director Lauren Miller Rogen channels her personal frustration with this societal pressure into the movie's premise.

The Premise and Pressure

Annie, played by Anna Kendrick, constantly weighs the pros and cons of motherhood. She is shown mooning over a cute child one moment and expressing repulsion at a tantrum the next. Her husband Aaron, portrayed by Seth Rogen, is easygoing and seemingly indifferent to the outcome, leaving the choice largely to her. The couple's social dynamics shift as their friends have children. Annie's friends Becky and Eliza, played by Issa Rae and Kate Berlant, have lives that constrict, offering her less space. Aaron's friends, meanwhile, have less time for activities like delving into the Bosch universe.

A plot device forces the central question. When Eliza leaves her husband, played by Dan Stevens, she moves in with Annie and Aaron along with her daughter Eve. Annie suggests that having a child in the house will push them toward a decision. The Guardian's review notes this is one of many moments where the film feels like it is telling rather than showing, with conversations that seem newly invented.

A Crowded Narrative

The review states that Miller Rogen wrestles with what kind of film she wants to make. Certain scenes have an amiable, hangout movie quality. At other times, the film strains to fit a familiar, formulaic structure with numerous characters and subplots, making it feel like an extended sitcom pilot. The cast includes David Strathairn as Annie's father dealing with his wife's dementia and Ed Helms as a sleazy investor for a gallery Annie and Becky want to open. There are also brief cameos from Sharon Stone and Ashley Park.

The film draws obvious echoes of Judd Apatow's work, amplified by Rogen's involvement. However, the review argues that Apatow's best films balanced multiple elements more seamlessly, without the apparent precision of flashcards on a corkboard.

Hits, Misses, and a Refreshing Perspective

Not all the comedy lands. A failed date between Sharon Stone and David Strathairn's characters is called a missed opportunity, and many poop jokes are deemed unsuccessful. The bigger laughs sometimes falter. Smaller, observed moments resonate more, particularly as Annie grapples with her friends' changing priorities. One standout scene occurs at a baby shower, where Annie reaches her limit with smug cliches from a certain type of mother. The Guardian notes this moment will feel incredibly satisfying for many non-parents.

It is refreshing, the review says, to see a film comfort those often made to feel othered for not wanting children, without feeling like an attack on those who do. Anna Kendrick delivers her performance with the passion of someone who has publicly stated she also does not want kids, in what is described as one of her better comic modes. Seth Rogen performs in his familiar, reliable style. Kate Berlant, however, is noted as being a little lost in the film's more dramatic moments.

Sticking the Landing

As the film concludes, some scenes lacking detailed insight are somewhat saved by a final monologue. This speech is a response to the film's eternal question about having children. The review describes it as an intelligent, even-handed, and genuinely moving way to end the film. It is clearly a thought-through response from an understandably exhausted Miller Rogen. The review ends with a hope that no one asks her that question ever again.