Albert Brooks’ movies have consistently been intelligent and hilarious, without compromising either quality. Upon hearing his latest movie was about a divorced man moving back in with his mother, I feared that Brooks would “sell out” and attempt a movie that would appeal to the sitcom crowd. Thankfully, I was wrong.
John Henderson (Brooks) is a science-fiction writer that’s been having trouble with women his entire life. After his second divorce, he gets the idea that his problems with women originated as a result of his poor relationship with his mother, Beatrice. (Debbie Reynolds). His friend comments that he seems to be attracted to women that don’t support him, and his mother refers to him as “the other son,” so he feels that there’s something that can be rectified by patching up things with his mom.
And so begins the “experiment.” John moves in with Beatrice and sets out to find out the source of the problem. They have arguments over food, shopping habits, clothes and other things about their daily routines that bother each other. All of these are quite funny, but subtle. No punch lines knock you over the head or scream “This is a joke. Laugh now!” There are no jarring reminders that these are simply actors at work. Brooks, who also directed the film, makes them come alive as real people with real faults, dreams and aspirations. This is probably the best work he’s done that showcases interactions between people.
The scenes involving Brooks and Reynolds make up the heart of the movie, providing the most laughs and the most enjoyment. It’s a joy to see Reynolds having such a good time with her character. Brooks, as always, is funny, self-deprecating and a bundle of frustration. Their on-screen chemistry is quite natural. It’s too bad that the Academy overlooked Reynold’s performance.
I saw this movie on a Saturday afternoon with a small crowd, but the laughter was loud and frequent. The best thing was that the laughter was real and not the sort of knee-jerk chuckle that most movie comedies elicit. The only problem with the movie is the ending, which screeches to a halt.
If you’re looking for a comedy that makes you laugh as well as think, Mother is definitely worth checking out.
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
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