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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:
ClarkL · 19/08/2016 10:14

I'm 30 with a 12 and 10 year old.
I had my son at 18 and missed out so much on being a young adult, so for me 'bad Moms' appears to highlight everything I feel at times. I wanna go out and be silly as opposed to working and being the 'perfect mummy' for all the other mums to judge on the playground.
PTA meetings, hunter wellies and Joules - barf!

WrappedInABlankie · 19/08/2016 10:14

eh?!

I had my first at 19! By 33 he'll be 14! (he's 4) My second will be 11. How is it hard to get your head around?!

bibbitybobbityyhat · 19/08/2016 10:20

I don't see what is goady about this op 5minswithDacre?

Loads of people disagree with Katz, fine.

But how is it goady? Genuine question.

Are you unaware of the terrible ageism in Hollywood towards women?

Memoires · 19/08/2016 10:21

Just5mins the thread is about women having their children when they themselves are very young. The op suggested that Mila Kunis being 33 with a 12 yo was unrealistic, and my point was that it is not unusual that women have babies even younger than the op had hers, so the character in the film was NU. I was merely adding to the pile of, well it's not quite evidence but close, that casting Mila Kunis was perfectly OK.

But thank you for keeping me up to speed. Flowers

And my name is Memoires, not Memories. Altogether different.

Just5minswithDacre · 19/08/2016 10:24

-Aren't you viewed as being a 'young adult' until 25? So you could be described as a young mum if that's the case

That's a fairly recent bit of meaningless government infantilisation to justify their cuts to benefits and student finance.

'Young mum' is probably now the most meaningless phrase on the planet, anyway, since it's also used about 45 year olds with small children.

MrsJayy · 19/08/2016 10:25

I had a 12yr old at 33 it looks a really silly fun film im going next week with my 23 yr old but i always have a oh its meg griffin moment when I hear Mila Kunis Grin

Just5minswithDacre · 19/08/2016 10:27

Just5mins the thread is about women having their children when they themselves are very young. The op suggested that Mila Kunis being 33 with a 12 yo was unrealistic, and my point was that it is not unusual that women have babies even younger than the op had hers, so the character in the film was NU. I was merely adding to the pile of, well it's not quite evidence but close, that casting Mila Kunis was perfectly OK.

And so you started rambling in senile fashion about teenage mums and council houses? I'm glad you're making sense to you Confused

And my name is Memoires, not Memories. Altogether different.

Autocorrect doesn't care memories and I CBA to correct it for GFs** Wink

JenLindley · 19/08/2016 10:29

I am truly baffled by this OP Confused

You may not know anyone who was a mum younger than you but I assume you have tv/internet/radio/talk to other people. It can't seriously be news to you that some people have had children younger than you had yours? It's very realistic.

My son will be 14 when I am 33.

DerekSprechenZeDick · 19/08/2016 10:31

MrsJay I'm taking my mother to see it. The 43 year old with a 26 year old daughter with a 7 year old son Grin

Just5minswithDacre · 19/08/2016 10:32

I don't see what is goady about this op 5minswithDacre?

Loads of people disagree with Katz, fine.

But how is it goady? Genuine question.

Are you unaware of the terrible ageism in Hollywood towards women?

Huh? Hollywood ageism bears on this how? Ageist is casting parts to younger actresses then the character age. Reflecting that people give birth at a range of different ages (which the film does) isn't ageist FGS.

Of course it's goady to say "I had my first at 24 but I can't possibly imagine a 21 year old having a baby".

I myself thought "That's not that. Much younger than I was for PFB really" which has got to be the more natural thought process, hasn't it?

MrsJayy · 19/08/2016 10:36

I hate the phrase young mother like it is something to be ashamed of.

HalfShellHero · 19/08/2016 10:37

I dont see the issue ...ill have a 13 + 10 yr old when im 33.

Idontthinkso1980 · 19/08/2016 10:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MrsJayy · 19/08/2016 10:37

Derek Grin

TheDowagerCuntess · 19/08/2016 10:38

Don't worry, Memoires - your point was perfectly obvious! (to everyone except Just5 apparently).

LewisAndClark · 19/08/2016 10:39

I think it's brilliant that she's been cast as her own age instead of playing someone 25.

YorkieDorkie · 19/08/2016 10:41

I had DD when I was 27 and I felt really quite old. I'd like two more kids and keep thinking that I'll be well into my 30s by the time I've finished having kids. I WISH I'd started loads earlier.

derxa · 19/08/2016 10:46

I find her incredibly annoying and had the same thought cross my mind, OP, when I saw the trailers for the film.

Sara107 · 19/08/2016 10:46

I do think the OP has a point - about young women being cast in pretty much every type of role in Hollywood movies. In this case it's been argued to death that it is perfectly realistic to have a 33 yr old mum of teens, but why not an actor in her 40's or 50's? Maybe in this case she was the best fit for the role, but you see it over and over again, young women playing parents of old children and playing the love interest for men way older than them. Ageism against older women is rampant in the film industry, many fantastic actors have spoken out about how roles dried up when they hit their 40's.

Advicepls7080 · 19/08/2016 10:49

People who aren't grasping the choice of actress need to realise that the film is about a woman who had her first child at 20 and she's wanting to let loose a bit because she feels like she's missed out on her youth!

derxa · 19/08/2016 10:53

*crossed

Chinks123 · 19/08/2016 10:54

I will be 29 when DD is 11. 24 is definitely not considered to be a young mum, well where I'm from it's not anyway. People have babies at 16+ (and younger) so obviously there will be people in their 30s with teenagers it's not hard to imagine..

Just5minswithDacre · 19/08/2016 10:55

I hate the phrase young mother like it is something to be ashamed of.

It's dog whistle sneeriness.

Like the teenager/council house nonsense that some idiot always starts spewing irrelevantly on threads about motherhood under 30.

DownWithThisSortaThing · 19/08/2016 10:56

sara I've just had a quick google and the other actresses playing mums in the film are

Kristen Bell (36)
Kathryn Hahn (43)
Annie Mumolo (43)
Jada Pinkett Smith (44)
Christina Applegate (44)

Most of them are in their 40s. Hardly an unrealistic cast, and it's not like they're being played by actresses in their 20s.

Agree with you about ageism for women in the industry but this isn't really a classic example of it

MotherKat · 19/08/2016 10:59

I'm ready glad Mumsnet has changed your mind and hopefully allowed you to enjoy the movie OP.