Reviewed by Rebecca Murray
What happens when a mommy blogger who’s fanatical about housework and obsessed with watching a live stream of an eagle cam decides she needs one Saturday night out with the ladies and away from her kids and her nearly always absent hubby? In Moms’ Night Out, the answer is an evening of pure chaos that includes the accidental death of a family bird, the misplacement of a baby, and time spent in jail. No, this isn’t a female version of The Hangover; it’s more of a twisted Adventures in Babysitting where the teenager in charge is replaced with a harried mother who doesn’t believe in herself and is constantly second-guessing her mothering skills.
It’s wacky fun rather than raunchy and its PG rating makes Moms’ Night Out pretty safe for all audiences. The moms at the center of the story are a sweet group, and it’s obvious from the opening scenes that everything is going to turn out okay, lessons will be learned, and doubts will be put aside as all involved will emerge stronger and happier in the end.
The cast is led by Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy) who plays Allyson, the neat freak stay-at-home mom who sees danger in the most innocent of household situations and is sure she’s a failure at being a mother. Sarah’s hubby (played by Sean Astin) encourages her to put aside all of her responsibilities, turn one night of taking care of the kids over to him, and go out and party with her closest friends. Although she’s worried she’s letting the family down, Sarah commits to one evening in which she’ll venture out without a cellphone and without needing to hold little hands.
Allyson’s plans for an evening of adult conversation during a nice dinner she doesn’t have to cook immediately hit a snag when she’s told by a snooty female maître’ d that her reservations at the trendy restaurant are actually for the following Saturday night. From there the evening hits speed bump after speed bump until she and her mommy buddies ultimately land in the slammer following a car chase and a run-in with the police in which Sondra (Patricia Heaton playing a responsible preacher’s wife) is tazed.
Moms’ Night Out, directed Andrew and Jon Erwin, is the latest in the string of family-friendly, faith-based releases to hit theaters, but while religion is brought up it’s integrated into the story in such a way as to not feel heavy-handed. It’s light, fluffy fare with a positive message delivered by a likable cast. And while it’s not believable as the evening escalates into over-the-top antics, there are enough genuinely relatable scenes to make it an enjoyable experience for moviegoers who like their comedies on the sweet side.
GRADE: B-
Moms’ Night Out opens in theaters on May 9, 2014 and is rated PG for mild thematic elements and some action.
Follow Us On:
Stumble It! 
