Smothered by Mothers

Great ensemble cast delivering a great story-line. Not short on laughs. As the trouble keeps escalating poor Bobby keeps trying to find ways to run downhill. I would love to see a sequel or a spin-off series because it's too soon to say goodbye to these characters.

I thought this would be a typical sports comedy and wasn't sure I'd like it, but I picked it up on Amazon anyway and I'm glad I took a chance on it. I am a big fan of Shannon Brown and Heather Matarazzo, so I decided to give it a whirl. It was not at all what I expected.

The story centers around a football player, Bobby Davis, who appears to have it all. At first it seems the story is leading down a path we've seen before with beautiful women fawning over a very attractive pro athlete who is thinking about settling down and marrying one lucky woman, but then, writer Kurt Weichert takes the audience in a completely different and unexpected direction. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say that Weichert does a fantastic job of putting some interesting and surprising twists and turns on what would be an otherwise predictable line that comedies like these tend to take. Just brilliant writing, the dialogue and development of these wild characters is spot on.

The cast is fabulous! Once again, Shannon Brown certainly earns lead status. This time as the cocky and brash football player, Bobby Davis, who goes through an unbelievable roller coaster of an arch. Brown somehow finds the balance of making you feel jealous of him and then (practically in the next breath) feeling sorry for him. His timing is razor sharp, his facial expressions and mannerisms keep you engaged throughout. I've seen quite of few of Brown's films, mostly dramatic, but he continues to showcase his range as a force regardless of the genre. It's no surprise he won so many awards for this performance.

Heather Matarazzo is wonderful as Brown's high maintenance sister. Their brother/sister dynamic is the reason the term sibling rivalry was created. Matarazzo is so underrated, a true talent in every sense of the term. She forces you to give your full attention every time she appears on the screen. No matter the role you just can't help but buy what she's selling. The back and forth between Matarazzo and Brown is laugh out loud hilarious, their scenes together are easily the best parts of the movie.

The rest of the cast is strong as well, I was pleasantly surprised to see "Paulie" from Rocky, his scenes are very entertaining. Michael Buscemi has a really funny cameo as well. This is a great comedy, very well written with great pace and timing. I'm not surprised at all that it won so many awards. Definitely worth checking out!

Director Brian Herzlinger brings us the zany comedy, "Smothered by Mother's". Bobby Davis (Shannon Brown) a fun loving wealthy, very wealthy football star has it all. A great career and a hot Sports reporter girlfriend (Juliette Bennett). He lives in a mansion, has nice cars a beautiful assistant (Jaime Bernadette) and everything a person could want. A big wedding is being planned and everything seems fairy tale perfect! Than what seems like over night he gets accused of doing steroids injected by team doctor(Michael Buscemi), 2 ladies (Marylin Bass and Whitney Kimball Long)are carrying his babies and he loses all his money in a Ponzi scheme, conducted by his best friend and business manager (Ken Weichert). Now the ladies are suing, his business manager has taken off and is supposedly killing him self on the Gulf of Mexico off his yacht. The FBI are at his door threatening to arrest him for the involvement of the scheme. A crazy sister (Heather Matarazoo)who asked for money for a endorsement scheme also is there after the check bounces. As a matter of fact everyone is at his door when the checks bounce. Including the 2 pregnant girls whose lawyer came up with a settlement and now he can't pay. His lawyer (William Haze) convinced him in order to satisfy everyone because of his misfortune, another plan has the 2 pregnant girls, his soon to be wife and crazy sister all moving in. One crazy mad so scenario after another pile up. He slowly is going nuts with his once magical life has turned to hell. With the help of his beautiful assistant who he fantasizes about all the time but remains civilized knowing she is the only solid rock in his life. She agrees to stay and help him recover even though he can't pay her. She means so much to him, he would further go down a path of destruction without her. When all seems lost his business Manager re-appears alive and with a plan to make things rite. So his best friend and team mate Charlie (Chuck Ardezzone) who has stood by his side the whole time, set out to make things rite. They team up for the ultimate touchdown and go head to head against mobsters to get his fortune back and everything back to normal. Head mobster Ivan played by legend Burt Young is absolutely fabulous to watch. Burt is hilarious and steels all the scenes he is in and proves he is a Hollywood icon. Things go from comedic mishaps to Murder and a whole different ball game. Gameplay has changed and a lot more Is involved with this Ponzi scheme that will teach our hero about life, loyalty and love.

Brian Herzlinger really went above and beyond in what could of been a run of the mil silly comedy. Along with great actors and a real solid story by John Fahy and Kurt Weichert it's pulled off. Shannon Brown gives a great performance and earns lead status. His reactions sometimes by just facial expressions are so on mark he is a delight in every scene. Also a stand out is the poor over worked Jaime Bernadette who takes her stride with the part and really presents a heart warming performance and you really feel her faithfulness and dedication. But my award for the favorite and has me laughing and crying from his zany performance was the lovable best friend Chalri played with over the top sincerity by actor Chuck Ardezzone. This is a must see feel good movie. When I read the synopsis I did not think I would like to much. But it turned out I didn't like, I loved it and will be watching again with wife. Fun movie. Solid story,actors, direction and totally unpredictable.



Director: Brian Herzlinger Writer: John Fahy, Kurt Weichert Starring: Shannon Brown ,Heather Matarazzo, Jim O'Heir, Burt Young, Alice Amter, Juliette Bennett, Chuck Ardezzone, Jamie Bernadette, Michael Buscemi, Robert Craighead, Marilyn Bass, Whitney Kimball Long, Will Haze, Johnathan Yaskoff and Ken Weichert.

This film was not at all what I expected. The title coupled with a beautiful cast had me thinking this would be yet another sexually fueled rom com. There is a tiny bit of that, but that's not what drives the film at all.

It follows a cocky football player that seems to be on top of the world, that is until his world comes crashing down as his sexual proclivities along with a shady friend ends up almost costing him everything. Shannon Brown brilliantly leads a very loveable cast with well developed and very interesting characters throughout. If you're not familiar with Shannon Brown's work, don't worry, you will be. I've seen four of his films, completely different genres, and he's been fantastic in all of them. As an indie stalwart, it's only a matter of time til he blows up in the mainstream. His comedic timing in this is razor sharp, his timely expressions and reactions to some of these crazy characters and situations keeps you engaged throughout. He's also not bad to look at either, ya know, if you're in to that whole tall, dark and handsome thing, lol.

Another highlight of the cast is Heather Matarrazo, who plays Brown's relentlessly annoying sister. I've always been a big fan, but this might be her best performance ever! Somehow her character is so likeable and so hatable at the same time which few actors can pull off. Anyone with a sibling will instantly connect with the way that Brown and Matarrazo play off each other. I read in an article where one of the producers said that much of their back and forth was ad lib and it makes sense when you watch it. I would love to see her do more roles like this! The chemistry between Brown and his assistant, played wonderfully by Jamie Bernadette, also stands out, quite a bit of steam when these two share the screen.

This was really well written, and Brian Herzlinger does a great job directing. I think the pacing is perfectly executed, it never seems to hit a lull. It seems to go quick, which is a good thing for a comedy, but it does leave you feeling like you want more, maybe they'll do a sequel. Either way, this was one of my favorite indie movies of all time and I highly recommend giving it a whirl.

This movie was surprising on several levels. Until recently, I wasn't familiar with Shannon Brown's work. I happened to see him in a touching and intense drama, Every 21 Seconds, when it was in theaters. I actually went to watch Black Panther but showed up late and figured I was there and pretty much decided to watch the next film starting which happened to be 21 seconds, it has a cool poster and I was in the mood to catch a movie, so why not. Brown was the lead, I was floored by his portrayal of a TBI survivor and became a fan instantly. After looking him up, I stumbled across this film and was a little surprised it was a comedy. I recognized the director, Brian Herzlinger and some of the cast, Heather Matarazzo and Burt Young of course. So, it was worth checking out and I'm really glad I did.

This movie is hilarious and Brown was shockingly good. The only reason I say shockingly is because I just didn't expect the same actor that I saw play a very intense and dramatic character so well to be equally as good as the lead character in a comedy. The dude definitely has range. The film overall just has great timing all the beats are sharp, Brian Herzlinger (My Date with Drew) does a great job of telling this story.

The story centers around a wealthy, hedonistic soon to be retired football player "Bigtime Bobby Davis". This guy has it all- looks, charm, cars, mansions, women, fame. Pretty much every guy's fantasy, then through a series of bad luck and bad choices he loses it all and then some. You literally began watching being jealous and envious of him then in a matter of moments you feel sorry for the guy and thank your lucky stars that you are not in his situation. The major transition is executed flawlessly by Shannon Brown. His reactions and facial expressions are perfectly timed, he forces you to be engaged with his character.

The supporting cast is excellent as well. A wild group of characters that I'm sure Herzlinger enjoyed directing because he did a fantastic job. It couldn't have been easy with so many off the wall characters. Heather Matarazzo shines as the relentless and oft times menacing sister of the main character. The sibling dynamic between Brown and Matarazzo is so good that you'd think they were brother and sister in real life if you didn't know any better. Any guy like me that grew up with a little sister will really appreciate how well these two pull off these characters. Another standout performance was Jamie Bernadette, she plays Brown's smoking hot assistant. The chemistry between Brown and Bernadette is electric, very steamy. You just desperately want them to end up together by the end of the movie. I don't know if this was intentional by Herzlinger or not and I'm not gonna give away any spoilers. I will say that if these two ever co star in a movie together as love interests, I will be first in line to see it.

This comedy is definitely worth checking out, really tough to find many flaws with it. The ending seemed maybe a little unsettled, incomplete. Maybe they plan to do a sequel or somehow continue the story, if so, that would be great! I'd definitely like to see what happens with "Bigtime" and the rest of the crazy characters.