Momma's Man

Ay Momma Mia! Sometimes it takes decades for an offspring to completely disconnect from his parents. This thesis is authentically depicted in the independent film "Momma's Man". Writer-Director Azazel Jacobs tale is one of wily humor but also of heartbreak, fear, sociophobia, and regression. Matt Boren stars as Mikey, a Los Angelian married to a devoted wife and also father to a newborn baby. Mikey travels to his hometown New York on a business trip, and stays with his parents which are named in the film none other than Dad & Mom; and why not? They are portrayed by none other than Azazel's real parents Ken & Flo Jacobs. In NY, Mikey does succumb to a profound case of "I am not really to be a responsible daddy" syndrome. Therefore, Mikey "scared as a" Mouse decides to elongate his stay in his parents' Big Apple loft, which is the real abode where Ken & Flo Jacobs reside and Azazel grew up in. Mikey spends his time there regressing on the past by: playing with his old toys, reading & re-exploring his past artifacts, reconnecting with an ex-girlfriend, re-bonding with his childhood loony best friend, and living the mamma's boy life (hence the film title) by getting spoon-fed by Mom. At the same time, Mikey visits "excuse city" territory in trying to explain to his awaiting wife his overextended stay with Ma & Pa. Mikey also takes a couple of pedestrian trips around New York City, but with an apparent social phobic stride. I do commend Jacobs for his experimental techniques in telling a familiar predicament to many novice family men out there, but in a more subtle context without all the verbal exploits. However, it is very tedious to integrate sheer entertainment value in Jacobs' delicate direction of his slow-moving narrative; so at sporadic times, there was too much of the same. Nevertheless, Jacobs should be climbing up the thespian ladder in many years to come due to his idiosyncratic craftsmanship. Matt Boren's performance as the conflicted Mikey was restrained but yet remarkable. Boren should not have a boring, uneventful future acting career with turns like this. And the Ma & Pa acting shop of Ken & Flo Jacobs was also a very rewarding one with their astute characterizations of Mom & Dad. But at the end of the day, and excuse me for sounding like a momma's boy for this, I wanted more cinematic treats from "Momma's Man". *** Average

This is simply one of the finest independent films I've ever seen, a story told with minimal dialogue but maximum heart and soul. Anyone who can't understand why Mikey is scared to leave his parents' home (and there seem to be a few of those shallow folks writing on this board) should get into therapy right away. In any case, Azazel Jacobs has remarkable insight and considerable writing and directorial skill, and his parents are wonderful as the parents in the film. Meanwhile, Matt Boren seems not to be getting enough praise for his amazing performance as Mikey. He's a fine and resourceful actor with a very expressive face. This movie is marvelous, and a completely must-see.

I saw this movie at Sundance Film Festival last night and it was horrible.

This is the story of a guy with no life and no personality who can't face his own problems and instead refuses to leave his parent's apartment.

The plot drags along and the characters are painfully boring and uninteresting.

Dozens of theatergoers walked out in the middle of this film and I wish I had, I'm not going to be getting that time back.

Do yourself a favor and go see one of the other great independent films traveling the film festival circuit and dump this disaster.

In order for me to enjoy a movie, I require things like character development, plot, a beginning, and an end. This movie contained none of these things. There was absolutely no way to empathize with the lead actor. I can't even call him a protagonist since there's no reason given for his inner conflict or a viable antagonist. My wife and I were left guessing throughout the film about the reason for this guy's sudden regression. With none given, not even a subtle hint, we're left to assume that this is just a jerk abandoning his family to act like a giant baby. I understand an independent filmmaker's desire to make a movie that asks more questions than it answers, and to portray realistic dialogue and human suffering, but at what point does it cease to be a subtle drama and become a confusing mess without character development? Must a writer/director fail as an entertainer in order to succeed as an artist? I think not. I say movies can be thrilling, funny, sad, frustrating, and totally engaging without sacrificing artistic merit. In the end, the writer of a movie is a storyteller, and it's lazy film making to think one can just throw a specific emotional state on screen and call it a movie. Don't waste your time.

A cinematic endurance test, tethered to a weakling character that nobody, mother included, would miss if he blundered into the bleak NYC winter night and never returned. Nice to see Richard Edson pop in; pity he had nothing to do.