Television Reviews : ‘Babycakes’ a Quirky Little Paean to Love

To celebrate the most romantic day of the year, CBS offers viewers a quirky little Valentine called “Babycakes,” based on the critically acclaimed German film “Sugarbaby.”

Airing tonight at 9 on Channels 2 and 8, it features Ricki Lake, the bubbly, round star of John Waters’ comedy “Hairspray,” as Grace, an overweight mortuary cosmetician who spots the man of her dreams at a skating rink and sets out to seduce him.

Rob (Craig Sheffer), the object of her desire, is young, svelte and handsome. As fellow cosmetician Keri (Nada Despotovich) points out, why would a guy like him fall for a, uh, “person” like Grace? Besides, he’s living with someone, and she’s gorgeous.

After ascertaining that Rob’s relationship is an unhappy one, Grace goes about her courtship campaign, not conceding a single calorie to do it. With ice cream sundaes, hot meals, surprising miniskirts and an all-enveloping, bountiful femininity, Grace makes the improbable more than possible.

It’s not a thoughtful film; director Paul Schneider and writer Joyce Eliason offer comic diversions and a few dark moments but don’t require Lake to explore her character too deeply.

Her unsympathetic stepmother (Betty Buckley), weak father (John Karlen), eccentric boss (Paul Benedict) and oddball friend (Despotovich) are fairly cartoonish. Lake’s infectious grin and buoyant appeal and Sheffer’s warmth, however, make this unlikely romance a sweet treat.