MOVIE REVIEW Big Momma's House (2000)
Starring: Martin
Lawrence, Nia Long, Paul Giamatti Studio: 20th Century Fox Review Posted: 6.9.00 Spoilers: Yes
Reviewed by Dennis Landmann
"The house is full of fun, some cheese in the drawer"
Martin Lawrence has starred in a lot of good films. Most known for his role as bad boy Marcus Burnett in Bad Boys, this new comedy follows the steps of Blue Streak in a lot of ways. Lawrence has to pretend to be someone else and this time it ain't no beat-the-streets cop, it's a big boned crass Southern grandma. Lawrence plays a real cop (FBI in this case) named Malcolm Turner who is after a bank robbing, cold blooded killer named Lester. Malcolm figures if he can get to the killer's wife Sherry, attractively played by Nia Long, he can get to the killer, played menacingly dull by Terrence Dashon Howard.
But it doesn't come to that as Long watches the news on TV where it reports that a prison break took place not long ago - and who do you think that was? None other than her lovely, err, killing husband. Feared for her life, she takes her son to the neighborhood to visit Big Momma whom she hasn't seen for over many years, although feels safe around.
Malcolm and his partner John, played by the always terrific Paul Giamatti, follow Sherry to the neighborhood and stake out in the house across Big Momma's. When Big Momma has to attend a funeral (or something), Malcolm takes her place and dresses up in a big suit. He pretends to be Big Momma throughout the movie, which strangely doesn't make neighbors and/or friends suspicious. Malcolm plays it out as Big Momma and soon falls for Sherry.
That direction of the movie lead to funny, but also disturbing moments, as when Sherry walked into Big Momma's bed because of her fear of thunder, which was Malcolm's ultimate chance to be side-by-side with her, but was obviously hindered as he was in the suit.
"It was so funny. Oh my gosh!" That sounds like it was a lot of fun. In several aspects, Big Momma's House was fun. Although, it did have its bad moments. The movie could've been a lot better as far as characters go, had the writers & Co. developed them with care.
Lawrence gave a really funny performance and so did his two sidekicks, Giamatti and Nolan the local security guard (played dead-on funny by Anthony Anderson). Although, this movie borrowed a lot from The Nutty Professor, Mrs. Doubtfire and Blue Streak - producing a direct cross between all of them - not that bad of an idea. It wasn't all that bad to say the least, but it did lack story and intelligence. But what do you really expect from a comedy? Hardcore storyline? Hardly. Fun is the right word and that's exactly what you're gonna get in this one.
You can either enjoy Big Momma's House by relaxing and sitting back or you can whine and bitch about it. You chose what you want to do. This movie is here to entertain, not to activate brain cells. So go out and get yourself some laughs as this one gives you that in quantity packs.
Film Rating: 5 out of 10
|
