User reviews

Two struggling young artists in Los Angeles.

He's an actor, mostly in commercials; she's a painter, tending bar by night. They meet cute; fall in love; move in together; fall out of love and try to figure out what went wrong.

That's the setup for writer/director Brian Klugman's romantic comedy "Baby Baby Baby."

The multitasking Klugman plays Sydney, the actor, while my fellow Toledo, Ohio, native Adrianne Palicki (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Friday Night Lights) portrays Sunny, the artist. The plot is nothing extraordinary, but both deliver engaging performances.

What is extraordinary? The totally unexpected celebrity cameos!

As Sydney attempts a transition from actor to writer, Klugman offers up three, once-scene vignettes to illustrate his thoughts – each acted out by celebrities. There is an Oscar winner, a cultural icon, an A-list leading man, an enduring beauty, a former comedian/sitcom actor; and a TV president/insurance pitchman. I have no idea how Klugman persuaded them to appear in his indie romcom, though I'm told that if you put in the time in Hollywood and aren't an asshole, you can generate a lot of goodwill.

Kelsey Grammar (Cheers, Frasier) also appears, in more than a cameo, playing a European gallery owner who gives Sunny her big break.

"Baby Baby Baby" is okay romcom with some drama. But it's the brilliantly written, brilliantly funny scenes with the celebrity cameos that put it in the "worth seeing" category.

You can tell there is something in the writing and the directing and in so many areas. But everything here looks like potential and then most of it ends up ugly. In its effort to be honest it did have at least one really great gritty truth that resonated for me personally. But for the most part it was way too based in the lives of people who lack any foundation to manage to do well. For that matter I suppose that may be the essence of the writer and director, lacking a solid foundation. I so wanted to like this more than I did. And I did watch to the bitter end.

It is a realistic film about a romance that changes with time. The huge celebrity cameos are striking, and is the highlight for me.

Sydney (Brian Klugman) is a single actor who is too much in his head. A friend urges, nearly forces, him to approach a woman in the park, and that is how me meets Sunny (Adrianne Palicki), a bartender with dreams of being a recognized artist. She is attractive, fun-loving, kind, almost perfect, so Sydney's self-doubts kick in, and he wonders if he deserves her. Will he just lose her?

Klugman--the writer, director, actor-uses internal monologues and "stories" to illustrate the concerns of daters, like how much baggage is too much. Sydney, who is reminiscent of a neurotic Woody Allen character, digs too much and overreacts to minor issues. Losing a major relationship can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, which Sydney knows, but he cannot help himself.

This film delves into relationship issues. It is a tragic-comedic exploration that reveals little new ground, but Klugman and Palicki are fun to watch, so I can recommend it to most who like rom-coms.

Neurotic, insecure, redheaded men are rarely amusing to watch, which is why I generally avoid Woody Allen films. I now know to also avoid Brian Klugman films.

Klugman, as writer/director/neurotic-insecure-redheaded-star-of-film-about-self is apparently Woody Allen 2.0, right down to his inclusion of a plethora of A-list cameos from celebrity friends joining in for the hell of it.

There are some interesting ideas here, and one or two mildly amusing scenes, but by and large this film is masturbation and self-absorbed public flagellation with a semi-decent budget.

Although never downright depressing, this is far from a feel-good film, and the bittersweet ending is way more bitter than sweet. Avoid if you need cheering up. It's not a rom-com; it's therapy-by-filmmaking.

This witty and charming film is funny in smart, slapstick and subtle ways, with sharp insights on relationships and the insecurities that always lurk in the background.

Every few minutes there's another surprise. A procession of A-list actors star in fanciful vignettes throughout the story, a bold director's touch that adds a sort of live-action cartoon element you don't see very often.

Klugman (who also wrote and directed) and Palicki turn in outstanding performances, alternately exhilarated and vulnerable in ways that make the viewer care about them and relate to them.

Highly recommend this heartfelt and hilarious film.

I was lucky enough to catch this movie at the Austin Film Festival--and I can't recommend it enough. It's funny, touching, tender--with a great central story and really amazing cameos including Bradley Cooper, William Shatner and even Lane from Mad Men!

Brian Klugman--who wrote and directed the movie--plays the lead and he's both really funny and heartbreaking as writer who falls in love with Sonny, a painter played by Adrianne Palicki-- (who I've been obsessed with since Friday Night Lights). Can't say enough about their great but realistic chemistry and we follow the twists and turns of their relationship.

I also really loved how Sydney's short stories come alive and make some really great points about life and love.

Don't want to say much more or spoil anything else so I'll just say catch this one when you can-- you won't be sorry!

Posted in Austin Film Festival 2015, Reviews, by Evan Dorrycott - November 04, 2015

Someone once said: "Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby: awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess." If you've ever loved someone, I mean truly been in love, you can understand and appreciate the experience Baby, Baby, Baby is attempting to provide in this film. We can't control what love does to us, as if you're truly in love, you're truly out of control. Baby, Baby, Baby encapsulates this, with a spectacular original screenplay by writer/director/actor Brian Klugman.

The narrative follows Sydney(Brian Klugman), a man fresh out of a grueling breakup, looking for anything than to put himself in that situation again. That is until he meets Sonny(Adrianne Palicki). The two go out for a drink and, as you can imagine, things get out of control. I can't say enough about how unique the writing style is in this film. This film is unequivocally funny, irresistibly heartwarming, and includes these incredible mini-shorts throughout the film that better express the emotions and state of the relationship the protagonist is experiencing. Throughout this film, you find yourself loving both sides of the relationship, and understanding where each is coming from in their troubles, while hoping it will all work out. Splendid acting in the supporting roles played by Michaela Conlin, Kelsey Grammar, and James Roday do an impeccable job at bringing out the characters within the screenplay.

This film gives you the very real side to love. It throws in your face the truth that we can't control love in any way, rather that love controls us. Although it is rare for me to say this, I loved almost everything about this film. The intellectual writing is something rarely seen, and this film had little, if any, predictability to it. It is worth noting that the last 15 seconds of the film come close to undermining it's whole premise, although that depends on interpretation. All things considered, Brian Klugman truly does it all in this film, and in doing so gives us the best love story we've seen in years.

What an amazing film! It really has to be one of the most refreshing films I've seen in quite some time. From the actors, writing, direction, music - it was just an all around perfect equation. I really enjoyed how easy it was to watch, how it kept me entertained from beginning to end and just how much fun it was. It's one of those movies that if you're feeling down, or just need a little pick me up it's sure to make you smile. Adrienne Palicki and Stephanie Tarling were great, strong characters. I am especially pleased to see one of my favorites, Kelsey Grammar, appear in more a sprinkle, it was great to see. This movie is definitely a go-to film for me, whether for date night, girls night in or a solo divulgence. I'm a sucker for Rom-coms, but this one seriously gave me that dose of drama I needed for it not to be basic.

All I really want when I see a film is to be entertained. If there's lots of wisdom leaking from that bucket, fine, but the basic entertainment still has to be there. 'Baby, Baby, Baby' kept my attention, made me laugh, made me nod in agreement. So consider me entertained.

All the cameos did not distract but without them, the movie would have been just as good. I'm not familiar with the actors who play the central couple but they are fine in their roles. James Roday is one of my favorite actors (I just watched 'Psych' from season one to the conclusion of the series) so I appreciated finding him here.

This is one of those films in which L.A. shines. One of my favorite lines in the movie concerns all the cliches about L.A. being true.

I rented this movie online and I've liked it so much I watched it twice in 48 hrs.

I fell in love with both of the main characters, Sunny and Syd, probably because they are so much like people I know and myself. They are so endearing in the film and I felt all the emotions they went through. It's sad, it's gloriously happy, it's funny! Can't say enough good things about this movie.

My favorite film I've seen in quite some time. The writing, direction, casting and delivery makes this the perfectly rounded piece of work. I'm a fan of Brian Klugman's work in the past, and was excited to see him behind and in front of the camera.

I also loved Michaela Conlin, Adrienne Palicki and Stephanie Tarling in the film. All very strong characters.

The story line captured my interest throughout the whole film, and at no point did it seem 'predictable'. The twists and turns kept it interesting for me.

The trailer was also well crafted.

Highly recommend!

Baby, Baby, Baby Review

Just about missed this one...tripped over it on a movie network streaming service and purchased it immediately after. That pretty well says it all.

One of the best movies I have seen in a while - right up there with Woody Allen's, Annie Hall - in a more current setting. The line from Allen in Annie Hall for those who know the movie "we need the eggs" comes to mind. Look it up if you're not familiar.

Brian Klugman who wrote, directed and appears in the movie as the main character, Sydney is a far less neurotic Alvy Singer (keeping with the Woody Allen character) and he plays the part superbly from start to final curtain. Adrianne Palicki the other (and great looking) half of the relationship is right on the mark as well.

I wanted to buy the movie in Blu-Ray but I could barely find it, in any format on amazon - I actually had to type in Brian Klugman's name to find it, in DVD. Talk about a sleeper. The reviews I read over, that gave this movie anything but top marks reminds me of Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) line from Aliens to should-know-betters' in regard to their IQs dropping sharply. Baby, Baby, Baby is a masterpiece.

This is a heartfelt, well-written and insightfully timed comedy, superbly acted by the main characters and includes appearances by Kelsey Grammar, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba and others. A movie well worth the time - an unexpected pleasure - and as it turned out, for me, a well deserved expense.

Kudo's to Brian Klugman – a beautiful piece of work.

Don't miss this one.

Simple little romantic comedy with a beautiful girl and a hapless suitor. She is attracted to his making her laugh and being sweet. He is attracted to her being gorgeous and sexy ... not to mention talented and smart. (I had to check her name and filmography because she looked so familiar. Turns out I watched Adrianne for years in Friday Night Lights. What a hottie!)

There are surprising cameos by A-list actors in short, hilarious vignettes. (The one with William Shatner was my favorite.)

Their courtship is filled with funny lines and his fantasy short stories about relationships. I laughed and laughed!

All is well until his insecurity kicks in. What makes it so cringe-worthy is the knowledge as the viewer, that unpleasant things will surely happen.

That it ends on a pleasant, believable way seals the deal.

This is a great little movie.