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With all of the buzz surrounding Moms’ Night Out, I managed to avoid reading too much about the film prior to seeing it because I wanted to absorb it with a fresh, untainted perspective. In fact, I fully admit that up until watching the film, I had no idea that it was produced by the faith-based division of Sony, Affirm Films. This lighthearted film that celebrates mothers and the important work they do is infused with inspirational, Christian-based themes without being overly “preachy.”
Sarah Drew stars as a mom of three children, who wrestles with the stress of parenting and the underlying sense of unhappiness and discontent she feels as a mother. Almost immediately, I found myself in Ally’s shoes, because who hasn’t felt overwhelmed to the point of a chocolate meltdown in a closet at the end of a very long day? And much like my own early days of motherhood, Ally expresses some of those feelings through her online blog.
At her breaking point, Ally realizes that what she needs is a Moms’ Night Out. Together with her best friend Izzy (Andrea Logan White) and their church pastor’s wife Sondra (Patricia Heaton), the three women get all dressed up for a fancy dinner out on the town (purchased through a Groupon deal, of course). From the moment Ally trips on the heels she hasn’t worn in years, audiences sense that the night is about to be anything but the reprieve she was hoping for. In one of the most humorous scenes from the film, Ally and her friends are asked to leave the upscale restaurant after a reservation mishap results in a disturbance of “aura.” Anjelah Johnson portrays the role of Chez Magique’s hostess brilliantly, setting the tone for the frenzy that is about to ensue.
Predictably, the evening erupts in chaos as Ally and her friends discover their minivan has been “stolen” and her sister-in-law’s baby is missing. Meanwhile, the fathers who supposedly “have it all together,” are juggling their own series of mishaps, including a trip to the hospital and a police chase. Interspersed within a series of laugh-out-loud high jinks are some poignant, thoughtful messages about the important role mother’s have. One of my favorite quotes comes from the unlikely character of Bones, a tattoo artist who reflects back on the influence of his own mother. The beauty and irony of this scene is that these profound and inspirational truths don’t come from the pastor’s wife but rather a man who’s stepped away from the church.
You all spend so much time beating yourself up…it must be exhausting. I doubt the good Lord made a mistake giving your kiddos the mama he did. So you just be you. He’ll take care of the rest. – Bones, Moms’ Night Out
The self deprecation we heap upon ourselves can be overwhelming and even crippling. I loved how this movie validated those raw emotions of often feeling imperfect or wanting more than the present reality of motherhood, and rose above them. One Moms’ Night Out didn’t change Ally’s reality…rather her perspective changed. “I’m not perfect…I make plenty of mistakes, but I’m right where God wants me to be and He has given me everything I need to be a mom.”
Wiser parents before me often quoted Gretchen Rubin when describing what it’s like to be in the trenches of motherhood: “The days are long, but the years are short.” And that is exactly the internal angst I often feel when I’ve swept crumbs off my living room floor for the 3rd time that day juxtaposed against my 4 year old daughter’s need for a cuddle before bed. I’ve not always been good about “making the most of each moment,” but like Ally, I’m learning how to let go and accept my imperfections.
The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world – Sean, Moms’ Night Out
Every single time I feel overwhelmed or under-appreciated, I’m going to hold onto that truth and remember how important my job as a mother is. My hope is that mothers and fathers across the country will laugh, enjoy an evening out, and have a renewed sense of their value and the critical role they play in their childrens’ lives.
Have your own Moms’ Night Out this Friday, May 9th, in theaters nationwide.
Images: Affirm Films
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