Four stars are born in 'Babies'

Babies are what you'll get, and nearly all you'll get, in "Babies," a documentary that tracks the growth of four newborns in vastly different regions of the globe. The parents, even the mothers, are rarely seen. There is no narrator. There are no subtitles. In fact, the film contains no commentary of any kind, verbal or visual, explicit or implied.

The film's objectivity - purity, almost - can be admirable, especially now, when documentaries are dominated by axe-grinding and personal "takes." Producer Alain Chabat, who came up with this idea, and director Thomas Balmès chose their subjects with an eye toward cultural and geographic symmetry: We meet little Ponijao, born in a Namibian village; Byarjargal, in rural Mongolia; Mari, in ultra-urban Tokyo; and Hattie, in easygoing San Francisco. We follow them from birth to first steps.

There are few, if any, cliches. The Namibians aren't exoticized (though it's marvelous to watch Ponijao expertly balance an object on her tiny head). Nor are the San Franciscans mocked as pampered bourgeoisie (although you might stifle a snicker when they go hot-tubbing).

But "Babies" ends up feeling as harmless as a bottle of Johnson's shampoo. The filmmakers are so keen to avoid judgment that they won't even point up a contrast. Unlike the subjects of the famous "7 Up" series, which highlighted class distinctions in England, these babies seem removed from their cultural environments, which makes them more similar than different. They sleep, they eat, they smack the cat (or goat), and that's about it.

In the end, you're able to draw only the safest of conclusions: Babies sure are cute.