As a representative of the company that manufactures infants, Boss Baby is out to thwart the multiply named Francis Francis (voiced by Steve Buscemi), the head honcho of a pet marketing conglomerate. Francis, we learn, has developed a puppy so irresistible that no one will want to have children once the pooch becomes available. It's up to Boss Baby to prevent the product launch of this heart-hogging animal.
All of this is explained with the aid of pie charts showing cuddly dogs eating into the market for youngsters, a satiric point that can be seen as vaguely pro-life.
But a darker tone -- in line with the movie industry's disdain for all other forms of profit making endeavor -- is introduced as Boss Baby schemes shamelessly and callously threatens Tim with the loss of their parents' affection. (Once further exposition reveals that success will mean Boss Baby's permanent return to headquarters, however, Tim becomes his willing collaborator.)
Beyond gentle domestic discord and the caricaturing of executives, a more pressing concern for real-life moms and dads may be the repetition in the dialogue of the question, "Where do babies come from?" The answer is always, of course, a whimsical one, though a whispered exchange between Tim and Boss Baby, inaudible to the audience, briefly hints at the true explanation before both agree in rejecting it.
Along with some silly potty and anatomical gags -- this is not a movie for those averse to the sight of an animated newborn's bottom -- that's about all there is to worry about in director Tom McGrath's ephemeral adaptation of Marla Frazee's 2010 picture book.
As for Stewie, he's unlikely to eat his heart out over the debut of his big-screen rival.
The film contains some slapstick violence, mild scatological humor and a religiously themed but not irreverent joke. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
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Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic News Service.
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CAPSULE REVIEW
"The Boss Baby" (Fox)
Amusing but flimsy animated take on the trauma of acquiring a younger sibling. A contented 7-year-old boy (voice of Miles Bakshi) not only finds his world disrupted by the arrival of a baby brother (voice of Alec Baldwin), he also discovers that the business suit clad newcomer has an adult personality and a corporate agenda to pursue. As a representative of the company that manufactures infants, he's out to thwart the head honcho (voiced by Steve Buscemi) of a pet marketing conglomerate who has developed a puppy so irresistible that no one will want to have children once the pooch becomes available. In line with the movie industry's disdain for all other forms of profit making endeavor, Baldwin's diminutive executive schemes shamelessly and callously threatens his big bro with the loss of their parents' (voices of Jimmy Kimmel and Lisa Kudrow) affection. But for real-life moms and dads, a more pressing concern may be the repetition in the dialogue of the question, "Where do babies come from?" -- albeit the answer is always, of course, a whimsical one. Along with some silly potty and anatomical gags, that's about all there is to worry about in director Tom McGrath's ephemeral adaptation of Marla Frazee's 2010 picture book. Some slapstick violence, mild scatological humor, a religiously-themed but not irreverent joke. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
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CLASSIFICATION
"The Boss Baby" (Fox) -- Catholic News Service classification, A-I -- general patronage. Motion Picture Association of America rating, PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
