Whenever I’m on a long flight, I always take advantage of the time by catching up on older films I have missed. So I was delighted that Babes is available on my Delta flight to New England.

Babes got glowing reviews out of SXSW, comparing it to [Paul Feig’s] Bridesmaids but with baby-making. The movie follows 30-something lifelong best friends Eden (Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau), who grew up together in NYC but are now navigating different stages of adult life. We first see the two going to the movies on Thanksgiving day, a friendship tradition for them except this time Dawn is heavily pregnant. Though her baby isn’t supposed to be due for another two weeks, she ends up going into labor that very day and the movie makes a comedic play of it. From the water break at a fancy restaurant to the chaotic delivery process.

Directed by Pamela Adlon in her feature debut, the story is based on a script co-written by Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz. Its logline already gave away the fact that Eden will soon get pregnant after a one-night stand, but that doesn’t make the whole romantic encounter with Claude (Stephan James) any less sweet. It’s a meet-cute on the subway followed by a flirty rendezvous at her place. “Let’s go ruin a towel,” Eden says, thinking she won’t get pregnant from having sex during her period. Well, she’s proven wrong soon enough.

The rest of the movie follows the two gal-pals who go through the rollercoaster of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting while trying to keep their free-spirited friendship intact. The narrative unfolds through a collection of vignettes, some moments are pretty absurd, filled with over-the-top antics (particularly the breast pump scene) and exaggerated performances. Comedy is very subjective and it can be grating when it doesn’t land, but I find myself laughing a lot while watching this thanks to the fun rapport between the two leads.

I recall Glazer and Buteau from various supporting roles on TV and movies, but it’s lovely to see them take the lead. They’re both charming and talented, with comedic chops to boot. They come across as relatable which I think is what makes this story work so well.

Babes clearly aims for a wildly quirky vibe, and the fact that the characters don’t fit the mold of a typical Hollywood movie is part of the appeal. Props to the filmmakers for keeping it real about the messy realities of childbirth and for not sugarcoating the ups and downs of parenting like many movies do. The movie also doesn’t shy away from showing how tough it can be to keep friendships alive during major life changes. Adlon has a knack for blending wacky, heartfelt, and poignant tones, though sometimes it feels like she relies a bit too much on R-rated raunchy jokes to hit the mark.

As a middle-aged woman who chose not to have kids, there are plenty of references I’m not familiar with. I didn’t even know what a doula was, which refers to a woman who may not have formal training in childbirth but is hired to help and support a pregnant woman as she goes through labor. Elena Ouspenskaia is hilarious as Eden’s doula, her deadpan delivery cracks me up every time. Reliable character actor John Carroll Lynch steals every scene he’s in as Eden and Dawn’s OB/GYN doctor, the big needle in the prenatal test scene had me in stitches!

As Adlon and Glazer are from the New York area, the movie feels like an homage to city dwellers. NYC is practically a character in this movie, it’s definitely one of the most memorable New York movies like You’ve Got Mail, Moonstruck, Working Girl, etc. That said, it also paints a pretty unrealistic picture of what it’s like to afford life in such an expensive city. I keep scratching my head as to how Eden, a yoga instructor, manages to pay for her stunning apartment and lavish lifestyle, like eating at fancy restaurants in Manhattan and chilling at a luxury resort? At least Dawn is a dentist and her husband (Hasan Minhaj) works a corporate job, so I could see how they could afford a Brownstone.

Minor quibbles aside, had a fun time watching this one and it certainly helped make my flight an enjoyable one. As someone squeamish, I’m glad I was able to tolerate all the crazy scenes featuring plenty of bodily fluids. Jokes aside, it’s a refreshingly frank celebration of female friendships navigating through life’s big changes.

Have you seen BABES? I’d love to hear what you think!

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