Babies, the upcoming Lauren Miller Rogen dramedy starring Anna Kendrick and Seth Rogen, has received an early vote of confidence from The Hollywood Reporter. The review positions the 1-hour-37-minute film as a crowd-friendly adult title when Roadside Attractions and Vertical bring it to theaters sometime next year.
The project is Miller Rogen’s second feature as director-screenwriter after 2018’s Like Father; production companies are Monarch Media, AGC Studios and Lylas Pictures, with AGC Studios and CAA handling sales.
The setup is simple: a Los Angeles couple who have been together for 17 years start asking whether they want children after a Fourth of July pool party makes their child-free status hard to ignore. Kendrick plays Annie, who runs through the pros and cons in a series of inner monologues. Rogen plays Aaron, her supportive partner. The question is no longer just theoretical once friends, family and a houseguest with a young daughter start shaping the debate. That framing makes it easy to market as a relationship-driven conversation rather than a spectacle.
Why the package stands out
The supporting cast is a marketing asset in itself: Issa Rae, Dan Stevens, Kate Berlant, Zach Cherry, Ed Helms, Ashley Park, Sharon Stone and David Strathairn. The review singles out Kendrick’s performance as the film’s core strength, with Rogen called a strong scene partner. Berlant and Strathairn are also highlighted for balancing comedy and weight.
Miller Rogen’s script keeps the film from becoming a simple pro-or-con comedy by adding more serious stakes. Annie’s mother is in the later stages of Alzheimer’s, which pushes the film toward questions about illness, caregiving and what people want children to witness. The review notes that these heavier moments sit alongside broad comedy, including a running joke about toilet training.
Commercial read for screen professionals
The film is not a spectacle play. It is a star-driven adult dramedy that will depend on reviews, trailers and word of mouth. For media planners and distribution teams, the key elements are:
- Casting: Kendrick and Rogen bring recognizable, likable leads to a mid-budget package.
- Audience lane: Relationship and family-life themes give it a clear adult-skewing position.
- Emotional range: Comedy and illness-driven drama can broaden appeal beyond a standard date-night comedy.
- Creative risk: The inner-monologue device can wear thin, so marketing should lead with scenes instead of voiceover.
- Open risk: There is no release date yet, so campaign timing and positioning will matter.
For screen business readers, the takeaway is less about the plot than the package. The review indicates that the film has a clearly defined protagonist with a strong point of view, which helps in trailer cutting and positioning. The bigger commercial challenge is that mid-budget adult films can struggle to command urgency, especially when home entertainment windows are short.
Bottom line
The Hollywood Reporter’s review suggests Babies has the warmth and star chemistry to attract an audience, but the bigger test is distribution. Roadside Attractions and Vertical will have to convince ticket buyers that this is a theatrical event, not a title that can wait for streaming. The first trailer and release date will be the next useful signals.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
