Babies MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +4 Content: +3

Family documentary. Directed by Thomas Balmes.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmes, from an original idea by producer Alain Chabat, Babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world - from birth to first steps.  The children are, in order of on-screen introduction:  Ponijao, who lives with her family near Opuwo, Namibia; Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchanmani; Mari, who lives with her family in Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie, who resides with her family in San Francisco.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Not sure how this will go over: “Honey, let’s go see this documentary on babies Friday night.” Yeah, right. Too bad, because like the recent Disney documentary Oceans, this too is something different from the same old mediocrity disguised as romantic comedy (Back-Up Plan) or family-aimed nonsense (Furry Vengeance). Babies deals with life around us and around the world. And like Oceans, it’s joyful, amusing, touching, and, ultimately, captivating.

Try this, ladies. Take your guy on a rainy, Saturday afternoon when there’s no big game scheduled. Good luck with that.

You’ll leave the theater with something else. The film is a reminder of just how good we have it here in the U.S. compared to the poverty and ignorance that plagues much of the world. That said, you’ll also see the American couple, plunged in their own decadent world of countless toys and a hot tub-topped skyline. In one scene these new parents attend some infant nurturing group where the teacher and her New Age hippy students chant, “The Earth is our Mother, she will take care of us.” It was sad that the only representative couple from America made no mention of God, preferring to worship the creation rather than the creator.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Focus Features