Moms’ Night Out

Moms’ Night Out honors women — and moms — like no other film  I’ve seen . . .

Moms’ Night Out
Starring Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton
In theaters May 9, Rated PG
Run time: 98 min

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a new comedy that I felt comfortable taking my 10-year-old to see. Sadly, most Hollywood writers and producers are unable to rise above the basest humor, resorting to extreme crudity.

So I was thrilled last year to visit the set of a new comedy from October Baby producers Jon and Andy Irwin. Moms’ Night Out is a mainstream family comedy written, produced and starring Christian talent, including Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond), Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) and Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy).

In the film, all Allyson (Drew) and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation — a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and fine dining, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours. What could go wrong? Everything. And hilarity ensues.

One of the film’s unique features is that it’s a story about Christians, made by Christians for a mainstream audience. There are no caricatures here. Drew told me that one of the things she loves about the film is that it honors mothers without denigrating fathers. “The stay-at-home mom is the greatest unsung hero in our culture today, and I want the stay-at-home mom to watch this movie and go, ‘You know what? This is the most important job on the planet.’”

Drew calls on-screen husband (Astin) a “rock star husband” who is always there for his family. “I think there’s something wonderfully rare about this film in that you’re telling stories about marriages that are healthy. You can still have drama in a movie without the husband and wife attacking each other at every turn.”

Despite its faith themes, Heaton stops short of labeling Moms’ Night Out a faith-based film. “I see this movie as a family comedy about some Christians. It’s really funny, and we’re having a really fun time with the Christianity in it. There are so many expressions of Christ in our society, and some of them are hilarious.”

Moms’ Night Out honors women — in particular mothers — like no other film I’ve seen. It doesn’t paint a glossy picture of motherhood, but it shows moms for who they are: The unsung heroes of our day who sacrifice so much to shape the next generation.”

Official site: momsnightoutmovie.com

Watch my interview with Sarah Drew: Click here.

PATRICK NOVECOSKY is Legatus magazine’s editor-in-chief.