The Mother

It seems like every six months we get a regurgitated Netflix "original " film with a seasoned empowered female actress fighting off perpetrators. It's everything you've seen before. Can't imagine even the demographic it's aimed at will find anything new to enjoy about this. Netflix continues to dumb down its "original" content . At least conceive some kind of a ambitious script or do something. They literally think they can just put an actress In a C level John Wick rip off script and it will work out every time. At this point I don't think JLo star power is enough to overcome this blatant cliché offering.

This film demonstrates proficiency, which makes it an acceptable entry into the action genre. However, the film ultimately suffers from the familiar and foreseeable nature of its plot, failing to bring any new or innovative elements to the table.

The film is evident in its predictability, where viewers may anticipate the next plot twist or outcome. The villains, unfortunately, lack depth and development, leaving them feeling underdeveloped and lacking in impact.

While this film may still find favour with fans of Jennifer Lopez, others seeking a truly memorable and groundbreaking action thriller may be left wanting more. Its reliance on established tropes and formulaic storytelling hinders its ability to stand out among the vast array of films within the genre. Ultimately, while it offers some positive elements, it falls short of leaving a lasting impression or pushing the boundaries of the genre.

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.

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.

Right, an action thriller starring Jennifer Lopez, I can't really claim that I was particularly harboring much of any grand expectations to the movie as I stumbled upon it on Netflix. In fact, I had actually never heard about the movie prior to sitting down to watch it.

The synopsis for the movie seemed fair enough, and I will say that writers Misha Green, Andrea Berloff and Peter Craig put together a fair enough script and storyline for the movie. It wasn't exactly a story that brought much innovation with it, but I will say that "The Mother" was sufficiently entertaining for a single viewing. And it should be noted that the storyline was actually somewhat cliché and generic, which made it rather predictable.

The pacing of the narrative throughout the 115 minutes that the movie ran for was okay. The movie did feel a bit sluggish at times, and could perhaps have benefitted from a more efficient trim in the editing room.

The acting performances in the movie were fair enough, and Jennifer Lopez actually fared adequately enough in the movie and in this type of genre. So she has the ability to perform outside of romantic comedies. She was joined on the screen by Omari Hardwick and Joseph Fiennes, as the only familiar faces among the cast list for me.

All in all, "The Mother" is a watchable movie, entertaining enough for what it turned out to be. Just don't expect to be in for anything that haven't already been done or seen in the genre before. However, it is a movie that ultimately doesn't have enough meat on it to support more than just a single viewing. And the movie's predictability sort of stole away from both the action and thriller aspects of the script.

My rating of director Niki Caro's 2023 action thriller "The Mother" lands on a five out of ten stars.