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I grew up on the wisdom of my mother and her clichè, "If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all." To some degree this is still a wise saying. How many times do I wish I could have remembered it before opening my mouth? Yet this saying underestimates the difficulty associated with always having something nice to say. It also seems to assume that saying something nice is possible at all times. I now believe that speaking the truth out of love is better than being nice. Perhaps this is why I thoroughly enjoyed the film Baby Mama. It walks the line between lovingly delivering a truthful message and delivering laughs.

Following the path of Juno, Baby Mama takes an ethical issue involving procreation and uses it as a platform for comedy, redemption, and statements about human nature. Sometimes laughter is the best remedy for awkward tension, establishing a light-hearted opportunity for conversation. Baby Mama creates such an opportunity. Surrogacy is an awkward topic that is rarely acknowledged, but Baby Mama drives home the associated beauty and the potential for inhumanity.

Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey) is a successful thirty-something singleton. Knowing she is nearing the end of potential birthing age, Kate takes motherhood into her own hands and tries artificial insemination. Each attempt results in failure and Kate is forced to explore alternative methods. As a last resort, she turns to an agency that provides surrogate mothers. Here Kate is introduced to her "baby mama," Angie (Amy Poehler).

Shortly after the successful placement of the egg, Angie and her lazy boyfriend Carl (Dax Shephard) start having "baby mama drama" which forces Kate to allow Angie into her home. The landscape for comedy hits its peak. The unrefined and unhealthy lifestyle of Angie clashes with the nitpicky and overprotective concern of Kate. As it turns out, they both must acknowledge their selfishness and discover that the other person has something to teach them.

Kate battles with one of the hot topics in surrogacy: viewing the surrogate mother as a means. She learns that the selfish inclination of seeing another human as merely a means to receiving what you want—even if what you want is human life—is entirely wrong. Even though Kate is heart-set on having a biological child she overcomes her selfishness and treats Angie as an end, rather than a means.

Angie also is challenged to face her own selfishness and abuse of others. Her laziness, lack of self control, and deceit are entirely motivated by selfishness. Pregnancy forces her to acknowledge these downfalls and recognize that life is now about someone other than herself.

In the end, there is much for the viewer to take away from this film. It clearly delivers the message that no person is above selfishness. Even something seemingly sacrificial like motherhood can be skewed toward self-interest. We all must be willing to reexamine our motivations and plans in light of our own selfishness.

Baby Mama also challenges how others fit into our worldview. As my former college roommate used to say, "It's your world, I'm just living in it." People are more than just a means to an end. The richness of community and life together is something we should never take for granted. Thankfully there are filmmakers that can deliver such an important message with comedy and truth.