Film Review: Big Momma's House (2000)

Critics, just like the audience, tend to concentrate on newer films as a point of reference, usually ignoring older and often more interesting titles. Example can be given by their reaction towards Big Momma’s House, 2000 comedy directed by Raja Gosnell. Many were attacking film for uninspired use of premise originally employed in Mrs. Doubtfire few years earlier, while completely ignoring the script also using premise from Stakeout, older and much better film.

Protagonist, played by Martin Lawrence, is Malcolm Turner, experienced FBI agent who owes much of the success in fighting crimes to his ability to assume different identities and work undercover. He and his partner Jonathan “John” Maxwell (played by Paul Giamatti) have been given task of apprehending Lester Vesco (played by Terrence Howard), dangerous bank robber who has escaped from prison. Key to his capture might be provided by his ex girlfriend Sherry Pierce (played by Nia Long), who is suspected of hiding Lester’s stolen money and might even aid his escape. She, however, leaves home in Los Angeles with her 10-year old son Trent (played by Jascha Washington) and heads to Georgia. Malcolm believes that she wants to come to her grandmother Hattie Mae “Big Momma” Pierce (played by Ella Mitchell). Two agents go to visit elderly woman only to learn that she left for vacation. John is convinced that they missed their chance, but Malcolm isn’t discouraged and decides to simply impersonate Hattie, whom Sherry haven’t seen in years. He does so despite Hattie being grotesquely obese. Plan works and when Sherry arrives, she is convinced that Malcolm is her grandmother. But Malcolm, who spends all of his time with Sherry trying to gain information, finds another problem – he has fallen in love with her.

Critics didn’t like Big Momma’s House mostly because of the weakness in the script. High concept premise provides plot which is nothing more than an excuse for series of gags, many of which with poor quality or dealing with various bodily fluids. Some of them won’t be too funny for people who are burdened with advanced age or obesity. In the second part of the film scriptwriters Daryl Quarles and Don Rimmer try to make film slightly more serious and appeal more towards audience’s sentimentality, usually without success. On the other hand, many of the film’s flaws were compensated with excellent cast. Martin Lawrence shines in his, often physically demanding, role during which he had to play character under ton of heavy makeup. He easily rises above script’s limitations and evokes audience’s sympathy, thus becoming serious contender for successor of Eddie Murphy on the throne of Hollywood’s most popular comic. Paul Giamatti is also very good as protagonist’s partner and film also benefits from the small army of talented African American comedians or character actors that manage to make people laugh despite some of the gags being of questionable taste. While hardly a memorable experience, Big Momma’s House was entertaining enough for audience to become box office success and those viewers who watch it now are likely to agree with such verdict. Success of the film led to two predictably inferior sequels - Big Momma’s House 2 in 2006 and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son in 2011.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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