A 1987 Romantic Dramedy directed by Charles Shyer and written by Nancy Meyer.
Yuppie J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton), nicknamed the "Tiger Lady" for her ferocity in business, finds out a long-lost relative has died and and left her with a baby, Elizabeth, as an inheritance. She tries to balance her busy work life with her newfound motherhood, but eventually she decides to prioritize raising Elizabeth and moves away to Vermont to start a new life. However, moving away might have been just what she needed to find a way to get back in the business game stronger than ever.
The movie also stars Sam Shepard, Harold Ramis, Sam Wanamaker, James Spader, Jane Elliot, Pat Hingle, Britt Leach, Annie Golden, Chris Noth, Linda Ellerbee, Mary Gross, Victoria Jackson, and Ben Diskin. It was released on September 17, 1987, and it was a modest success in the box-office. It was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes, with Keaton receiving a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical as well.
Tropes for the film:
- The Alleged House: After leaving her job, J.C. buys a fancy house in Vermont without properly inspecting it first, and learns that it's riddled with problems such as faulty plumbing and insufficient heating.
- Alliterative Title: Baby Boom.
- Children Raise You: The baby was left behind by a very distant, European relative that J.C. hardly even remembered. J.C., a yuppie, initially is focused only on her careers and has no interest in having children, but eventually grows attached to Elizabeth, the baby, forcing her to re-evaluate her priorities, so she decides to become a working parent and to raise Elizabeth herself.
- Convenient Slow Dance: J.C. never misses a party where her plumber's band is playing.
- The Diaper Change: The movie features a Rare Female Example, with Maternally Challenged J.C. struggling to change baby Elizabeth's diaper.
- Family Versus Career: The main theme of the movie is J.C. having to constantly balance this choice. At first she puts career over family, but when her boss gives her job to her protégé with the excuse that she'll be able to spend more time with her new baby, an outraged J.C. quits and tries to devote herself entirely to Elizabeth. When that becomes overly stressful and lonely, she then tries to negotiate her way back to a job in Manhattan, only to realize in the end that she's capable of balancing family and career just fine.
- Ivy League for Everyone: J.C. has a bachelor's degree from Yale and an MBA from Harvard.
- Maternally Challenged: J.C. had never even considered having children before baby Elizabeth comes into her life, and thus struggles with taking care of her, initially relying on a string of nannies before problems with her career lead to her moving to Vermont.
- Open Heart Dentistry: J.C. gets treated by a veterinarian during her time in Vermont.
- Predatory Business: J.C. initially works for a company called "The Food Chain". After she leaves it and forms her own independent business, "Country Baby", The Food Chain makes an offer to buy it and distribute her products worldwide in exchange for a lucrative salary.
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: The film begins with J.C. in a relationship with an investment banker named Steven, but when Elizabeth comes into their life, he has no desire to help raise her and they amicably part ways. The film ends with J.C. starting a relationship with the country veterinarian, Jeff Cooper, that she meets while reevaluating her life.
- Thermometer Gag: J.C. takes the baby's temperature rectally, and she seems to be as stressed out by it as the baby is.
