Motherhood (15)

Uma Thurman may have what it takes to be Quentin Tarantino's muse, but she hasn't a clue about how to play funny.

And Katherine Dieckmann's awful comedy about a harassed Manhattan mother of two is no place to start learning. The day-in-the-life setup finds Thurman juggling the demands of her daughter's sixth birthday party, a competition deadline to write about "what motherhood means to me", and an importunate scrum of traffic wardens, neighbours and competitive moms at the playground. This I-Don't-Know-How-I-Do-It schtick may appeal to the martyred-motherhood brigade, but it won't do anything for people who turn up to a comedy expecting laughs.