Faye Khan

Bebes kids is simple but gripping. It’s a nostalgic whirlwind of 90’s Proud family type aesthetic. Brings back a lot of memories even if you’ve never watched anything like it. It’s full of R & B, hip hop, and pop culture references. The whole movie is subsequently an adventure and everything is very unexpected. It has many undertones about black kids perceived as “trouble” like robots and other adults who undermine the kids. However, the kids challenge those stereotypes in some ways when they use their wit and skills to get out of many difficult situations. They even form a coalition with other kids, get out of a trial, and more. The movie also shows how they deeply touch Robin’s life when he decides to take them to the amusement park because he wants to get closer to Jamika. Robin is a carefree bachelor who never even wanted his own kids but when he sees that the kids’ mother is never at their home, they have no food, no structure, or attention he realizes that all they need is some love and attention. Even though most of the movie is incredibly fun, and has lots of pop up gags, like a crazy robot run amusement park, with FBI like agents patrolling kids, pirate ship fighting, jumping on old ladies, burning down and destructive behavior, it shines light on a ever present issue of inner city poor youth that have so much potential but they have a cycle of not much adult supervision, no structure, and not much academics. And how just by a little bit of attention and supervision, their entire life can change.