Baby Boom

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Baby Boom

PG

Released Sep 17, 1987

1h 51m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

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46 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) is a New York City businesswoman who is married to her job and has a relationship with Steven (Harold Ramis), a successful investment broker. J.C.'s life takes an unexpected turn when a relative suddenly dies and makes her the caretaker of a baby girl. Soon, the baby's arrival causes J.C. to lose first Steven, and then her job. She moves to Vermont and embarks on a series of life-changing events. But when offered the opportunity, will she return to her corporate ways?

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Critics Consensus

Baby Boom struggles to impart its feminist ideals, but Diane Keaton's winsome leading work helps keep things breezily entertaining.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

Shyer's direction of actors rises instantly to a level of cartoonish hysteria and descends only for occasional wet bursts of sentimentality.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 24, 2021

Full Review

Marsha McCreadie

Arizona Republic

Baby Boom is so far into the realm of fable as to be a cartoon, or a wish fulfillment. It's as if Frank Capra had read Ms. and missed the point.

Jun 24, 2021

Full Review

Joe Pollack

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Baby Boom" is a classic of insipidity, oozing sexual stereotypes from every pore, with dialogue that can't tell the difference between bright and trite and a music score that may give cavities.

Jun 24, 2021

Full Review

Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

The movie just about works, but everything feels like a missed opportunity to say something more, go a little deeper, or be a touch sharper.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 30, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

While not the most financially successful of the rash of baby flicks to emerge from Hollywood during the late '80s (that would be Three Men and a Baby), it was arguably the best.

Rated: 3/4

May 16, 2022

Full Review

Ben Yagoda

Philadelphia Daily News

The message of "Baby Boom" is so wildly dubious that it s impossible to ignore. When you think of it as only a movie, however (and a slick, manipulative light comedy at that), you have to admit that "Baby Boom" does a nice job.

Jun 24, 2021

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Stephanie Teresinha D

Love love love this movie, the plot is wonderful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/29/24

Full Review

john r

Cute but insubstantial tale of a yuppie executive who inherits a baby and changes her life. Keaton is well cast but the movie struggles to find any comedic or dramatic momentum.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/13/24

Full Review

alan g

Typical yuppie trash. Diane Keaton wooden as usual. You knew she was going to wind up with the rugged outsider. Baby was cute.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Jeff M

I suppose one could call this a romantic comedy, but what makes me so appreciative and what makes this a bit more refreshing than the average romcom is that the boyfriend takes a backseat to the kid. The last scene of the movie is not a long smooch between two lovebirds but a mother gently rocking her toddler. This is quite the underrated 80s comedy and I'm frankly surprised it doesn't come up in conversation more often. And for the most part, it holds up beautifully, even if the yuppie feel throughout the film makes it feel a bit old fashioned. Keaton can be a hit or miss actress, often letting her eccentricies overwhelm her performances, but she is perfect here. She has moments where she has her obligatory comic breakdown, but even then she feels grounded and not too over the top. This doesn't re-invent the wheel, but what it does it does beautifully. And sometimes it's a breath of fresh air, especially in these crazy times, to sit down with a movie that wants to do nothing more than make you smile. The supporting performances are fine, if not spectacular. Shepard is not the most exciting love interest in movie history, but I suppose a veterinarian from Vermont isn't supposed to razzle dazzle. This is basically all Keaton all the time. It's a great comic vehicle and very much family friendly, with enough sight gags and cute baby scenes to keep younger ones somewhat entertained.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Ken L

Cliches. Stereotypes galore. In fact that's all that's here.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/24

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KB B

It was an enjoyable movie for the whole family. I agree with some of the other reviews that Diane Keaton was really bouncing the baby to aggressively early in film. It's worth the watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

Full Review

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Charles Shyer

Director

Diane Keaton

J.C. Wiatt

Harold Ramis

Steven Bochner

Sam Shepard

Dr. Jeff Cooper

Sam Wanamaker

Fritz Curtis

James Spader

Ken Arrenberg

Baby Boom: Official Clip - The Nanny Interviews

2:10

Baby Boom: Official Clip - Firing Eve, Hiring Helga

2:12

Baby Boom: Official Clip - J.C.'s Breakdown

2:02

Baby Boom: Official Clip - Country Baby

1:18

Baby Boom: Official Clip - A Kiss from Dr. Charm

2:32

Baby Boom: Official Clip - Baby Food

1:51

Baby Boom: Official Clip - Rectal Thermometer

1:20

Baby Boom: Official Clip - Kitchen Kiss

1:53

Baby Boom: Official Clip - You're a What?

2:41

Baby Boom: Official Clip - Changing a Diaper

2:04

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Synopsis

J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) is a New York City businesswoman who is married to her job and has a relationship with Steven (Harold Ramis), a successful investment broker. J.C.'s life takes an unexpected turn when a relative suddenly dies and makes her the caretaker of a baby girl. Soon, the baby's arrival causes J.C. to lose first Steven, and then her job. She moves to Vermont and embarks on a series of life-changing events. But when offered the opportunity, will she return to her corporate ways?

Director: Charles Shyer
Producer: Bruce A. Block, Nancy Meyers
Screenwriter: Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.4M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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