Examining the Stigma Around Childlessness

It’s a question still casually and routinely asked to couples everywhere regardless of familiarity, one that many fear and some feel actively offended by: are you guys gonna have kids? According to writer-director Lauren Miller Rogen, this issue has personally shaped her new film ‘Babies,’ which premiered at the Toronto film festival and will be released in 2027.

The Los Angeles Couple’s Dilemma

In ‘Babies,’ Miller Rogen pairs her husband, Seth Rogen, with Anna Kendrick as a Los Angeles couple named Aaron and Annie — the film follows their experience at a pool party that has increasingly become a kids’ gathering, highlighting the societal shift and expectations around parenthood. Annie’s voiceover, a device used inconsistently, gives insight into her internal struggle between attraction and repulsion toward children.

Aaron’s easygoing nature adds to the complexity of their situation, allowing Annie to grapple with the decision of whether to become a parent — the couple’s dynamic is further tested when Eliza, a character played by Kate Berlant, moves in with them after leaving her husband. Eliza brings her daughter Eve, a child Annie actually likes, into their home, creating a scenario where the couple must confront the idea of parenthood more directly.

“Having a kid in the house will push us in a direction,” Annie tells Aaron, though the dialogue feels at times like Miller Rogen is narrating directly to the audience. The film then forces the couple to consider how having a child around might influence their decision to become parents.

Comedy That Fails to Fully Land

While ‘Babies’ has its moments of charm and insight, it also struggles with maintaining a consistent tone, while At times, the film feels like an extended sitcom pilot with its many characters and subplots. David Strathairn plays Annie’s father, dealing with his wife’s dementia, while Ed Helms appears as a sleazy investor for a gallery that Annie and Becky (played by Issa Rae) want to open. There are also brief cameos from Sharon Stone and Ashley Park.

Some of the bigger laughs in the film fall flat, including a failed date between Stone and Strathairn and a series of unsuccessful poop jokes. However, there are smaller, more richly observed moments that resonate, such as a scene at a baby shower where Annie reaches her limit with the smug clichés often associated with motherhood.

Kendrick delivers a passionate and likable performance, drawing on her own public stance on not wanting to have children, and Rogen, meanwhile, stays true to his comedic style, while Berlant struggles in the film’s more dramatic moments. As the story nears its conclusion, a final monologue provides a thoughtful and moving response to the film’s central question, offering an intelligent and balanced perspective on the issue of childlessness.

Overall, ‘Babies’ is a bumpy ride that ultimately delivers a satisfying and thoughtful ending. The film offers comfort to those who feel othered for not wanting children without attacking those who do. As Miller Rogen concludes, it’s a deeply personal and well-considered take on a question she has been asked one too many times.