I Hate Kids (2019)

I Hate Kids is the kind of scrappy, good-natured comedy that sneaks up on you: it starts with a gloriously uncomfortable premise and then keeps finding fresh ways to make it funnier, warmer, and more human than you expect. Watching a committed bachelor who can’t stand children get thrown into an absurd road-trip search—guided by a twitchy, well-meaning psychic—creates a steady stream of awkward encounters and comic escalation, helped along by a cast that sells the chaos with real charm. Beneath the jokes, the movie earns its laughs by letting its characters grow, hinting at the possibility of redemption for a man who never planned on being anyone’s father. If you enjoy slightly raunchy, situational humor with an unexpectedly sincere heart, this one’s an easy bet—though those allergic to broad comedy may find its tone a little loud by design.

I Hate Kids is aiming for a raunchy, fast-talking road-trip farce about a commitment-phobe being forced into last-minute fatherhood, with a psychic sidekick to keep the chaos moving. The problem is the comedy often lands with a thud: the jokes can feel clunky and repetitive, and the “kids are the worst” attitude comes off more mean-spirited than sharp, which may read as offensive rather than edgy. It also leans on sitcom-level misunderstandings instead of building real momentum, so the premise starts to feel tepid long before the credits. If you enjoy broad, low-stakes absurdity and can tolerate immature humor, you might find a few moments in the performances, but if you’re looking for clever writing or any warmth beneath the cynicism, this probably isn’t worth your time.