Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011) starring Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas, Michelle Ang, Portia Doubleday, Emily Rios, Ana Ortiz directed by John Whitesell Movie Review

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Brandon T. Jackson and Martin Lawrence in Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011)

Big Momma Little Fame

FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence - College Road Trip) and his stepson Trent (Brandon T. Jackson - Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief) are not seeing eye to eye over things as Malcolm expects him to go to college where Trent has aspirations of being a big Rap star. But that all changes when Trent witnesses a murder and together father and son set about tracking down the murderer. For Malcolm that means busting out the Big Momma fat suit again and one for Trent as well as they head to an all girl's school for the performing arts.

I honestly believe that alongside the certificates that movies get there should also be an extra sort of notification as to who the movie is intended for. I say this because as whilst here in the UK "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son" received a PG certificate it also deserves the age rating of 9 to 13 because that to me who it is intended for. And as such and no matter how much it pains me to say this "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son" works for that age group but at the same time offers up little for anyone else especially those who have already watched the first two "Big Momma" movies.

Now I am not only in the anyone else group but also have sat through the first two movies and as such I'm not in the target audience for "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son". In fact I will go as far as saying that whilst its not terrible "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son" is as unimaginative as they come. All they have done in this third movie is drag in the character of Trent and then recycle the humour of the first two movies but place it in a "Fame" like setting. It is why for a young audience who wont spot the lack of originality that this third movie still works.

Now the thing is that recycling the gags and ideas wouldn't be half bad if they were genuinely that good the first time around but they weren't. It makes this third movie extremely hard work for adults and you long for something new and genuinely funny. It also seems like it was hard work for some of the cast especially Ana Ortiz who looks like she spends a lot of the movie wondering what she signed up for.

What this all boils down to is that I guess "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son" works for a young audience but has nothing for anyone over the age of 13 or who has watched the previous two movies.


LATEST REVIEWS