Moms’ Night Out is a fun little family comedy that reminded me of my
younger days when I was maneuvering marriage, a burgeoning career as a writer,
and three little children born in three years. I remember the constantly messy
family room, the scribbling on walls, and my hard-working husband trying his
best to cope with my metamorphosis from career-driven wife to stay-at-home mom.
Fortunately for me, I was able to hire a part-time nanny to help out, whereas
the main character in this movie, Allyson (played by Sarah Drew from Grey’s Anatomy) does not.
As expected, chaos reigns in
Allyson’s life from morning till night, and the only reprieve is a secret
hiding place in her closet where oodles of candy, old black and white movies,
and memories of what her legs used to look like in her favorite, sexy, strappy
high heels provide temporary comfort. Her well-meaning husband, Sean (Sean
Astin), tries to lend a hand but is more preoccupied with the newest video games
to fill his free time. Her friends are saddled with their own domestic burdens,
and her sister-in-law, Bridget (Abbie Cobb), only adds to the drama by
unloading her only kid at short notice when the mood strikes. The pastor’s
wife, Sondra (Patricia Heaton), offers encouragement, but advice isn’t what Allyson
needs. While she adores her three children and is still in love with her
husband, she comes to realize that being solely a wife and mother isn’t enough.
Even though it is what she has always wanted in life, there is something
missing in her heart.
During a boring, superficial
book club meeting, Allyson and her best friend, Izzy (Andrea Logan White),
hatch a plan to get dressed up, go to dinner, and have a fun night on the town—a
mom’s night out. They invite Sondra and the date is set. The hubbies will take
care of the kids while the ladies have a nice time, sans cell phones and other
distractions that could spoil the evening. But before the night begins,
disaster seems to be lurking at every turn. Sean invites his derelict friend to
help babysit, Sondra’s teenage daughter has a delinquent moment, Bridget dumps
off her kid for another evening of free babysitting, and the restaurant loses
the ladies’ reservation (a funny scene). And then to make matters worse,
Allyson’s minivan is stolen (or is it?).
** SPOILER ALERT **
From here, the movie turns
into a bit of a silly caper flick. Mixed signals and miscommunications from
Sean and the other husbands send Allyson and her friends on a wild goose chase
to rescue the children from a supposed kidnapper. If it weren’t for Drew’s cute
personality and funny antics, the second act would be a bit of a bore. Also,
one can’t ignore the wonderful Trace Adkins, who helps the film along with his
words of wisdom and witty humor that made me laugh. I also loved Heaton’s
performance and admired how she used her comedic talents to reveal the flaws of
a pastor’s wife without being offensive. These three performances are the glue
that hold the film together till the finale.
The ending works nicely with
Allyson coming to terms with the chaos in her life. Even though none of the
children were truly in danger, the notion of losing her family so swiftly and unexpectantly
brings thoughtful reflection. So what if the kitchen is a mess and the family
room untidy? She has three healthy, thriving kids who are safe and happy and a
wonderful, yet flawed husband her loves her and believes in her talents. As it
turns out, she has everything she needs to be content and fulfilled, and the
scribbled picture on the wall that her daughter drew is a reminder of this
revelation. No longer a mark to be covered by a fresh coat of paint, the crude
drawing of a joyous family has become a poetic masterpiece that requires a
picture frame to preserve its message. It is a reminder to all of us parents to
count our children and families as our greatest blessings from the Lord.
The final scene has Allyson spending
a quiet moment in front of her computer before the house stirs with the
clamoring of little people. With a hot cup of coffee at her side, she gazes out
the window and smiles, her fingers poised over the keys as she prepares to
share her thoughts in a blog post. There is hope in knowing she is not alone in
her busy world, but that she is connected to a vast fellowship of creative
stay-at-home moms (and dads, as the case may be) who long to be validated and
recognized. Something the world should appreciate a little more.
Moms' Night Out is a nice little film
that is entertaining and thought provoking, especially for us writers and
work-at-home folk. Watch it and enjoy!
Moms’ Night Out is a fun little family comedy that reminded me of my
younger days when I was maneuvering marriage, a burgeoning career as a writer,
and three little children born in three years. I remember the constantly messy
family room, the scribbling on walls, and my hard-working husband trying his
best to cope with my metamorphosis from career-driven wife to stay-at-home mom.
Fortunately for me, I was able to hire a part-time nanny to help out, whereas
the main character in this movie, Allyson (played by Sarah Drew from Grey’s Anatomy) does not. 
