Movie Review - Gayby Baby

Director Maya Newell bounces back-and-forth between four, Australian families. All of whom feature two gay parents and multiple children, but the majority of the documentary is told from the point-of-view of the children. As such, there is a lot of information that isn't conveyed. Bouncing back-and-forth in that regard only gives us a superficial look at these people. It makes for almost too many people, especially in too short of time. The movie should be longer in order to explore deeper the lives of all these families, or else Newell should have dropped a family in the least.

How the limited p.o.v. hurts the movie is in the example of the family that visits and has dinner with the Prime Minister of Australia. When it happens, the movie barely registers it. It's an important thing that occurs but the filmmakers totally brush over it. Another example is the family that moves to Fiji, the islands east of Australia. Why they move to a more homophobic place is never explained. It's brushed over too.

The movie is a series of sketches and not deep dives. It provides moments of children being annoying or difficult to their parents, as well as moments of home life that are normal or at times dramatic that some could find compelling, but I needed more. I needed more depth.

Three Stars out of Five.
Rated PG for some language, a rude gesture and some smoking.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 25 mins.