The Mother

The trailer is deceiving.

It led me to think I was gonna watch something to the tune of NOBODY. Instead we get this bad-ass lady (by way of narration by a law enforcement officer as to her past accolades) who does bad ass things early in the movie and suddenly, seemingly it all finished. Then soon audiences are reminded oh wait another bad guy still has his portion to get through.

Plotholes, cliches, mentorship in badassery to her kid that doesn't pay off and just poor writing makes for this incoherent action flick.

Sure Lopez has done some (better) action flicks in the past but this won't be the one she will be remembered by.

Jessica Chastain does a better job, Jennifer Garner, heck even Michelle Rodriguez too at being an onscreen bad-ass chick.

The only badass scene here really is when she rode that HD 48.

Such a dissapointment.

This film is essentially a 2023 remake of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Commando movie with a women protagonist, and instead of tropical island scenes it takes place in Alaska. It has the same cheesy and over the top cliches, but without the self-awareness that it's such. Jennifer Lopez is good enough in the role of an action hero type, but the story, script, and filmography are disjointed and convoluted. The major problem is it has the absurdly unrealistic aspects of a shoot-em-up movie (laughably impossible feats, innumerable henchmen taken out with ease, and a scar-faced antagonist) while trying to be a serious action/drama film. It would have been better if they had chosen one or the other.

Yet another vanity project for Lopez, this time as an action hero with fur coats, and the same hair and makeup in pretty much every scene, even if the scenes are 12 years apart. This film needed a more versatile actress, one that would lose the long hair locks and have it messed up, one that could handle - and look convincing, with some dirt and scratches on her face, one who can show some facial expressions relevant to each scene, not the constant "ya I'm tough" expressionless look and tone.

Next we have a story that took three prolific writers who've written some great films and series in the past, to come up with a monotonous, repetitive, cliched and underwhelming screenplay with bits from many better films in this genre. The poorly paced nearly two-hour runtime felt much longer with many dragged out, unnecessary and predictable scenes. You know exactly what's going to happen, and you waste time watching it happen stretched out for so long, you can just fast-forward and not miss a thing. Top that all off with a director that decided to use a blurred fish-eye lens effect in some scenes, I thought I was having migraine episodes.

Had a more convincing actress been cast, it may have made the dull filmmaking a little more bearable, but combined all together, it's not the gift any mom would want for Mother's Day. It's a pass from me, and a very generous 6/10, all for the young Lucy Paez as Zoe, who was the only one that shined in this dull action thriller.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

"The Mother" attempts to deliver a fast-paced action experience, but unfortunately, it falls short of bringing anything new to the table. While the film does showcase some well-shot and engaging action sequences at the beginning, it fails to deliver in terms of character development and emotional depth.

From the start, it becomes apparent that "The Mother" prioritizes action over substance. While the action sequences may be visually appealing, they lack originality and fail to offer any fresh ideas or innovative choreography. The film becomes a predictable series of adrenaline-fueled moments, with little to surprise or captivate the audience.

One of the major shortcomings of "The Mother" is the lack of character development. The characters feel one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection from the audience. The film misses an opportunity to explore the complex relationships, internal conflicts, and personal growth that could have added depth to the story. By neglecting these elements, the film becomes superficial, leaving viewers with a sense of disappointment.

Furthermore, the final fight scene is marred by a questionable decision made by the villain. It feels contrived and unrealistic when the antagonist fails to take an easy shot, expecting a moment of vulnerability from the protagonist. This lapse in logic takes away from the overall credibility of the film and leaves the audience scratching their heads.

Overall, "The Mother" falls into the realm of mediocrity. While it starts off with well-executed action sequences, it fails to offer anything substantial in terms of storytelling or character development. The lack of emotional depth and conflict limits the film's potential to truly engage and resonate with the audience.

"The Mother" may provide some fleeting entertainment for action enthusiasts who are solely seeking adrenaline-pumping sequences. However, for those looking for a more compelling and thought-provoking cinematic experience, this film may leave them feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

I don't know why but, since a decade now, and more than fifteen years after Luc Besson's NIKITA, back in 1990, no one can deny that there legions, batches of action flicks showing female fighters, fist, gun fighters. Women playing men's roles. Of course this kind of scheme was common in the American Indie industry during the seventies, remember the Grindhouse movies, destined for drive in audiences, Grindhouse or psychotronic, exploitation features taking advantage to the women's liberation movements that spread all over the country and even beyond.... Hollywood could not affaord to approve, so the independant movies did it instead. And also women's prison movies. It stopped during the eighties, for one decade, then it came back for a short while before appearing again since the 2010s and especially since the Harvey Weinstein affair and the feminist fashion that rapidly followed,spreading all over the world. Only now, the quality is a bit better, with once in a while a prestigious cast; here Jenny Lopez or a couple of years ago Jessica Chastain - AVA.... This movie is surprise less but efficient, a excellent time waster despite an expected ending.