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Original poster

Bad Moms- why cast Mila Kunis?

312 replies

Katz · 19/08/2016 08:36

Just seen the advert for this new film, and the poster showing Mila Kunis as the lead role.

I know she's a great actress but why cast a 33 year old to be the mother of based on the preview are children who are at least 11 or 12?

All the other 'Bad Moms' are actresses in their late 30s early 40s?

I was looking forward to this film, had only read reviews of what it was going to be about but this will annoy me!

OP posts:
Jizzomelette · 21/08/2016 11:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DownWithThisSortaThing · 21/08/2016 11:20

Whilst not impossible clearly I do think it's uncommon to have kids at that age THESE DAYS

It's really really not! Most people I know - friends, people I went to school with, had kids in their 20s. Generally having their first between the ages of 18-25.
So I could say it's really uncommon to have kids in your 30s - which obviously it isn't!

DownWithThisSortaThing · 21/08/2016 11:38

I've just googled it
According to this the average age for first time mothers in the US is 25.6
In the UK it's 28

Careforadrink · 21/08/2016 11:40

Down

But that's your experience. It's not mine. It may be to do with location, social circles, demographics etc. But there are no young mums around me. Either in antenatal or in class.

DownWithThisSortaThing · 21/08/2016 12:01

Care
That's what I'm saying. Just because it's not your experience doesn't mean it's 'uncommon'. Judging by statistics it's fairly common.
There are no older mums around me, it doesn't mean older mums are rare.

raisedbyguineapigs · 21/08/2016 12:18

I feel like going to see this now. I gave a child and husband free day next week. Would you recommend this over Star Trek?Grin

Careforadrink · 21/08/2016 12:20

Down

It's uncommon these days in my eyes. I never said rare. Just more unusual today.

DownWithThisSortaThing · 21/08/2016 12:27

Ok, well you're wrong, but go ahead saying its uncommon (it's not) Smile

NeedACleverNN · 21/08/2016 12:29

I don't think it's uncommon

Yes a lot of women are waiting until they are older but there are still many choosing to having children young

PearSoup · 21/08/2016 12:30

Wasn't OPs point more about he lead being the younger actress? As in she was looking forward to a film featuring women in their 40s as the central characters but they sort of ruined that by having her as the lead.

TwentyCups · 21/08/2016 12:31

I know a few 27 year olds with 11 year olds. Not that odd really.

Are first time mothers under 21 not suitable for film representation? Hmm

Careforadrink · 21/08/2016 12:34

I'm not wrong as I said it's uncommon in my eyes. What I see around me and based on my everyday experience locally. So it's subjective lol.

I'm not saying your experience is wrong. As I can't. I don't live your life. Just as you don't live mine.
Smile

almondpudding · 21/08/2016 12:43

This is just an intersectional issue isn't it?

Older women are poorly represented in Hollywood, but younger mothers are frequently viewed negatively in society.

So it is important that older women get a diverse range of roles, but it is also important that there are films where a young actress play a young character who is a mother.

And I agree with Dacre's posts on this thread.

DownWithThisSortaThing · 21/08/2016 12:45

Ok, well in my eyes it's uncommon to be married, have more than one child, have a dog and rent a house Grin

Careforadrink · 21/08/2016 13:01

Well that may be the case in your locality.

Difference is though the stats would appear to back me up. Older women outstrip younger women for having babies for the first time ever now. So semantics I know but older mothers are more common these days. 20 year old mothers are more uncommon than they were. It's a fact. And my experience.

RitchyBestingFace · 21/08/2016 13:12

It's weird to focus on this film as being unrealistic when there are so many other, better examples:

  • Sally Field played Tom Hanks' lover in Punchline and his mother 6 years later in Forrest Gump
  • Amy Poehler played Rachel McAdams' mother in Mean Girls - she's 5 years older than her
  • Angelina as Colin Farrell's mum in Alexander (she is one year older)

Here is a good list

For what it's worth my DSIS (middle-class, home owning, professional) is two years older than Mila and she has a son who can drive, vote and pays taxes. Her friend the same age has a daughter in her final year at uni Shock Shock Shock

RitchyBestingFace · 21/08/2016 13:18

Although I think the point the OP is trying to make might be valid. In Hollywood, the point where an actress starts playing mothers in family films is the point where their career as Desirable Female Lead is over. It seems somewhat premature in Mila's case as she is so hot.

I can't recall Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston or Sandra Bullock entering the 'mom' casting list at this stage.

(I am talking purely from Hollywood's context where a 27 year old is too old to be a superhero girlfriend and a 37 year old too old to be a 50-something's leading lady)

RitchyBestingFace · 21/08/2016 13:21

On the Mila front as well I always thought it was odd she didn't leverage her Oscar nom for Black Swan into more interesting roles. Her choices since have been odd and weak. Maybe she feels she's achieved what she set out to and is happy waking up to AK every morning who wouldn't be?

LilQueenie · 21/08/2016 13:41

Its called acting. yabu.

DownWithThisSortaThing · 21/08/2016 13:44

care
Well you're right in that the average age of first time mothers is gradually getting older but there are still lots of women having their first babies in their early 20s
According to this 1 in 5 first time mums is under 25
So not exactly 'uncommon'

HTH

Careforadrink · 21/08/2016 14:16

Down.

It's semantics but if being an older mum is more common being younger is less common/more uncommon.

But in any event I related it to my experience where I live. I'm not questioning your experience.

Careforadrink · 21/08/2016 14:19

There's nothing wrong with being a 20 year old mum any more than there is with being a 45 year old mum. It's just more uncommon today than it used to be.

Just5minswithDacre · 21/08/2016 14:28

I think everyone is being oddly defensive! The OP didn't say there was anything WRONG with having children in your early 20s, just that it was strange for the role

It's only one out of the 6 mums that is younger, though. Strange would be if they were all 33, wouldn't it?

almondpudding · 21/08/2016 14:36

Care, you're using the word uncommon incorrectly. That's the source of the semantic confusion.

Uncommon means rare.

The phrase you're looking for is less common, meaning happens less often.

You are saying 'more uncommon', meaning even more rare than it was already.

It's less common to be a GP than a nurse, but GPs are not uncommon. Neither are mothers in their early twenties.

Just5minswithDacre · 21/08/2016 14:39

Difference is though the stats would appear to back me up. Older women outstrip younger women for having babies for the first time ever now. So semantics I know but older mothers are more common these days. 20 year old mothers are more uncommon than they were. It's a fact. And my experience.

Okay. I don't think anyone's disputed that.

So you want all younger mothers expunged from media representation as a result? How odd Hmm

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