'Bad Moms' stars Sarandon, Hines dish on parenting — and their R-rated comedy

Actors Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon came to Chicago's Peninsula Hotel recently to promote their new comedy, “A Bad Moms Christmas,” opening Nov. 1.

The sequel explores the complex connections between mothers and daughters, tinged with lots of raunchy, R-rated comedy.

Sarandon, now 71, offered a tip for parenting in the 21st century.

“Everybody's trying to keep their house so perfect, yelling at their kids for messing things up,” she said. “They overschedule them because they want to make sure, in kindergarten, that they get into a good college, and learning three languages. All this stuff we do to our kids now. That's just insane!

“You're motivated by love. And wanting them to be safe. And wanting them to be able to earn a living. So anything that's outside that box you're against. If you don't give a (hoot), your kids have more time and more chances to find their voice than when you're on them all the time.”

A reporter asked the actors to talk about their own mothers.

“My mother is similar to my character in a way,” Hines said. “When my mom watches this movie, she's going to say, ‘Oh, my God! You're doing me!'”

Hines referenced a visual joke from the movie. “She would think that's a great idea — pajamas with pictures of your face on them!”

A reporter asked if Hines would let her 13-year-old daughter see her new R-rated comedy.

Her first thought, Hines admitted, was no. But her teen won out.

“My daughter is very wise and she's very smart. She said, ‘Mom, do you really think there's going to be something in that movie that I can't see on the internet any time I want? I said, ‘You're right!'”

• Dann Gire's column runs Friday in Time out! Follow him on Twitter at @DannGireDHFilm.