Travel and accommodations were provided by STX Entertainment. Opinions are my own. Go check out my spoiler free review of A Bad Moms Christmas!
Now, while in Chicago, we were able to interview some of these wonderful and talented actors. First we met with Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell. Let me tell you that the tables were set up with a pad and a pen, a bottle of water, and a small dish of candy rocks. In the back of the room were mimosas and festive red and green macarons. So when the ladies walked in, then greeted us, they noticed immediately that they were in a room of bloggers and that most of us had a mimosa in front of us. The irony was not lost on anyone, and it was a great ice breaker! Plus, what’s not to love about interviews with funny ladies!!??
The interviews were a lot of fun- with Mila, Kristen and Kathryn, there were lots of questions about filming with Justin Hartley (not enough takes, but would there ever be?), fun off topic convos, but also a lot of talk about the way these films about Bad Moms are actually giving moms almost a societal ‘permission’ to say ” I NEED A BREAK” and not be chastized for it!
From Kathryn:
I also think one of the important messages of both movies is just like the lack of judgment and self-criticism, to try to like let that go because, like Kristin was saying, it’s like we only are mommies to these little people for a very short amount of time, and if you don’t want to spend like any excess nonsense worrying about crap, whether it’s what this–you know, what your cupcakes look like, or like you know what I mean? Like whose cupcakes are better than–like it just seems to be so–we just spend too much time thinking about other things, I think.
From Kristen:
It is okay to be a paradox sometimes. So you can feel guilty, and you can also know that you need a night out with your girlfriends.
From Mila:
And once I have that night it’s like the greatest sense of relief ever, and I come home and he’s like how was it? And I’m like it was so fun, and we have to do it again. Like six months later I’m like I don’t know; I don’t want to leave the kids. Like it’s the same cycle. He’s like, get out. But it’s great, and it’s you know, I get out. I just feel the guilt.
They may be superstars, but they are, at the end of the day, moms like us who are really just wanting to do the best they can. They go out with their friends, feel guilt for doing so, feel guilt for wanting to do so, and happy they did it. They head out earlier than pre-kids and are home by 9:30 because they know 6 am comes with awake kids, regardless of famous they are. They get all excited to snuggle up in bed and watch a TV show… only to fall asleep within 15 minutes. Just. Like. Us.
That’s what A Bad Moms Christmas (and the Bad Moms film) are about. Moms getting a break, not just the break from the family, but a break from the societal pressures and the pressures we put on ourselves to have/be/do/strive for perfect. I think that’s why this movie is going to take off- like the first one- because it’s relatable. We see ourselves in so many of these situations! The work out of the house mom, the stay home mom, the single mom…we’re all struggling and working to do the best for our families- and we ALL need a break. Feeling guilty for needing, wanting and taking a break is normal- and it’s ok to feel that along with having fun being out!
We also dished on other topics, and found out that the first time Kathryn met Justin Hartley was when they were shooting his first scene in the movie, that Kristen Bell can catch some serious air on a trampoline, Mila Kunis learned a whole lot about Sam Heughan over recent months and we all agreed that it’s a little odd how characters in historical shows seem to be so clean and well groomed. We had a lot of off topic conversation going about the Alliance of Moms, Game of Thrones, Outlander and more…but the overall feel was excitement about the film and the sort of movement the Bad Moms movies have started for moms to kind of rebel against perfection.
Side note: I want someone to dress me as well as these ladies were dressed. It’s not a natural talent for me!
The moms coming to stay with our beloved Bad Moms friends were so amazingly cast…and as it turns out? Kristen, Mila and Kathryn got to help choose their on screen mom. These are not your average grandmothers, my friends. And they bring BIG scenes with them!
Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines and Susan’s dog Penny joined us for some of our morning. We scooped on how fun it was to take part in this film, found out that Cheryl Hines may have more similarities to Sandy than you’d think, and Susan Sarandon’s daughter is also a (Connecticut!) mom blogger!
But, more importantly, we discussed women’s issues, and how important it really and truly is for moms to take time for themselves. Cheryl and Susan are both moms- and Susan a grandmother- and they get it, they work, they parent, and they are in the trenches along with the rest of us.
We talked a lot about women in entertainment and other industries, with the prevalence of sexual harassment in the news currently, and what it was like being in a film so predominantly starring women. We also scooped on objectifying a man- which as we know, is kind of the opposite of the norm.
Really, the message that came across so clearly from both Ms. Hines and Ms. Sarandon was their passion for their work, but also for this project that is inspiring a generation of women to realize it’s OK to want- and need- and then TAKE time for themselves. Both are also (along with me) hoping for a Bad {Grand}Moms in Vegas to add to the film series.
Susan said something during the interview that really REALLY stuck with me, especially with some things that are going on with my kids at the moment, and she really hit the nail on the head.
Forgive yourself for not being super perfect. If you’re happy your kid knows that you’re happy, and all the guilt you feel for not being there every second, that your kid will admire you. You’ll be raising kids who have an expectation that you’re more than just a mom. And that’s a really good thing. But it doesn’t matter if your house is messy for the weekend. It doesn’t matter if you’re eating leftovers or ordering pizza. What matters is that they know that you love them and then when you’re there for them you’re really there for them, and you’re happy to be with them.
Of course, both ladies wanted to know if we bloggers thought people would laugh at the movie…um, YES! and also if we thought guys would laugh, too. And they will, because, after all, they’ve all known moms and wives and grandmas.
It’s hilarious. GO SEE IT. I am serious!
A Bad Moms Christmas arrives in theaters November 1A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas. And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers. By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.Starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines, Jay Hernandez, Wanda Sykes, Peter Gallagher, Justin Hartley, Oona Laurence
Watch the trailer, and then grab your tickets and GO see this movie! Get your tickets now: BadMomsTickets.com