Baldwin Is a Young Boy With a Wild Imagination in Hilarious Animation ‘The Boss Baby’

Sandra Miska

The arrival of a new baby into a family is always followed by an adjustment period, especially for an older sibling used to having his parents all to himself. The animated film “The Boss Baby” tells the story of seven-year-old Tim Templeton (Miles Christopher Bakshi), whose world is turned upside down upon the arrival of a brand new baby brother, ruining his triangle of a family – the perfect shape, he recalls as an adult (Tobey Maguire). Being an only child during his early years, Tim has developed an active imagination to amuse himself. When his loving parents (Lisa Kudrow and Jimmy Kimmel) arrive home with the newest member of the family, his creative juices start to flow as a way to cope, and Boss Baby (Alec Baldwin) is born.

Perhaps it’s not much of a stretch to think of a baby as a high-strung executive. Both bosses and babies have been known to be prone to outbursts when upset, both can be extremely demanding, and both have been known to make themselves the center of attention. Through Tim’s eyes, his little brother becomes a terrifying miniature businessman in a suit, the type who would fit like a glove working at Goldman Sachs or playing golf with a certain president. Baldwin has a wealth of funny lines as he lays down the cold, hard facts to poor Tim about his long-term plans to take his big brother’s place as the center of their parents’ lives.

However, it soon comes to light that more than sibling rivalry is at play: Boss Baby is on a mission from Baby Corp, an infant factory up above the clouds, to the Templeton Family. Mom and Dad both work in the marketing department of Puppy Co., a corporation led by one Francis E. Francis (Steve Buscemi), and it’s up to Boss Baby to uncover the necessary intel on a soon-to-be-released puppy that threatens to displace babies from the affections of adults everywhere for good. A promotion at Baby Corp is on the line for the little guy, and since his success means Tim can find peace, the two boys soon find themselves working together.

“The Boss Baby” will likely please its target audience of young children. There’s some dazzling animation that, at its best moments, is reminiscent of “Toy Story.” As for the adult chaperones, there’s enough clever dialogue to keep them entertained – especially from Boss Baby himself, who is at times a hyped-up version of Baldwin’s corporate titan Jack Donaghy from “30 Rock.” But perhaps what works best about the film is its celebration of the power of imagination, which never fails to aid Tim at his most crucial moments.

“The Boss Baby” opens March 31 nationwide.