Althouse: "Either the best YouTube video ever or the cinematic equivalent of birth control."

May 7, 2010

"Either the best YouTube video ever or the cinematic equivalent of birth control."

Are you going to see "Babies"? Am I?

24 comments:

ricpic said...: The safest thing for a guy to say when presented with someone's little darling is the most neutral thing to say -- "That's a baby."; 5/7/10, 4:34 PM
Ann Althouse said...: No, the safest thing to say is "cute" or "adorable' even if the baby is pretty ugly.; 5/7/10, 4:54 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Are you going to see "Babies"?

OF COURSE!

Am I?

YES!; 5/7/10, 5:07 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/7/10, 5:10 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: I laugh at the sad parts of "chick flicks." I get sleepy during most romantic comedies. I don't find dogs inherently endearing, especially if they talk.

But how can a person not be curious as to how people in other places raise their babies?

I am excited about this movie. And it had better be good.; 5/7/10, 5:14 PM
ricpic said...: Freeman, my advice would be to go to kylesmithonline.com and read his review of Babies before plunking down a tenspot.; 5/7/10, 5:18 PM
KCFleming said...: The Beastly Baby
by Edward Gorey

Scroll down.

A lovely tale about a bouncing babe.; 5/7/10, 5:20 PM
Eric said...: No, the safest thing to say is "cute" or "adorable' even if the baby is pretty ugly.

They're all ugly when they first come out. I figure, given what the parents have just gone through, it's not a hug imposition to follow convention and tell a little white lie.; 5/7/10, 5:26 PM
Eric said...: Or a "huge imposition". Either way.; 5/7/10, 5:27 PM
erictrimmer said...: Eric,

My two babies were ugly right after birth.

My sister's baby, on the other hand, was beautiful right away and remains so.

The difference? My sister had a C-section. No head-squishing.

BTW, both boys are handsome now.; 5/7/10, 5:37 PM
kimsch said...: Didn't you write about this movie before? I tried searching but I can't find it. Either that or I am prescient....

wv: likin; 5/7/10, 5:42 PM
KCFleming said...: T-shirt to start an argument:

My baby is cuter than your baby.; 5/7/10, 5:52 PM
KCFleming said...: Parenting hint:

Don't hold junior overhead after swinging and jostling him.

Or at least don't do so with your mouth open.
Fair warning.; 5/7/10, 5:54 PM
Anonymous said...: I wouldn't go to a theater to see it, but the previews do make it look really fun and interesting- I might get it when it goes On Demand. ('course, I say that a lot and rarely follow through).

My dad used to say that all newborn babies look like Winston Churchill. Apparently, that was his go-to wrinkly squishy fellow.

- Lyssa; 5/7/10, 6:39 PM
Be said...: If I have to see *something* (and believe me, this weekend, it will be a definite possibility,) will probably be "Oceans"

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810017841/info

instead of "Babies."; 5/7/10, 7:08 PM
Expat(ish) said...: My wife and daughter (11) are excited about this.

I must be in the uterine challenged part of the universe. I'd rather see The Color Purple again.

-XC; 5/7/10, 7:27 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/7/10, 7:49 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: No, the safest thing for a guy to say when presented with someone's little darling is,

"Good of you to not put one of those dumb-ass elastic head bands on it's bald little head, either pink or blue, to publicly declare its gender."

Unless it has one, of course.; 5/7/10, 7:52 PM
chuck said...: "...but it lacks insight and depth."

Must not contain the needed dollop of social significance, so might be good.; 5/7/10, 8:05 PM
Meade said...: No, the safest thing to say is "cute" or "adorable' even if the baby is pretty ugly.

Least safe thing to say: "What is it?"; 5/7/10, 8:34 PM
kimsch said...: saying a baby is beautiful (either sex) generally means you are sincere. Oh how cute! can mean, that is one ugly baby.; 5/7/10, 8:39 PM
traditionalguy said...: In my experience, Grand Children are easier to get to know than your own children. Babies come to us with a full personality and they are only asking for a place in life to be themselves and share their talents.; 5/7/10, 8:42 PM
Anonymous said...: If you can keep a stream of enthusiastic-sounding gibberish directed at the baby then you don't have to say anything at all to the parents, and you won't have to worry about saying anything wrong.; 5/7/10, 10:50 PM
themightypuck said...: @TG,

My parents are constantly just a little pissed off regarding the lack of deference their grandkids give them (mostly grandma, on both sides. Grandpa's tend to be more relaxed). This probably has a lot to do with distance (GP live 2K+ miles away). Things are different with friends of mine who live in the same town as their parents and who have involved (i.e. used for babysitting purposes) the grandparents from day one.; 5/7/10, 11:03 PM