The Film
Just a few weeks ago, we lost Garry Marshall. To say he was a huge talent is such an understatment. He popped up on the big screen (A League of Their Own) and small screen (Louie) more times than I can list here. He wrote several classic TV shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show. He created one of my favorite sitcoms of all-time, Happy Days. He even directed the ultimate rom-com, Pretty Woman. Unfortunately, he was also the force behind a trilogy of terror that began with Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve. Now it's wrapping up with the mother of all bad rom-coms, Mother's Day.
I love a good brunch and bouquet as much as the next mom, but Mother's Day is an otherwise pointless holiday. However, it's not half as pointless as this movie. It shouldn't be confused with the 1980 horror film of the same name (or its 2010 remake) -- although, that's to be debated. Mother's Day is a pretty bad movie. It's basically one of those ensemble movies that relies on a steady stream of famous faces and a perky soundtrack to carry the entire film. Yes, all 119 minutes of it.
Jennifer Aniston plays Sandy, a divorced mother of two whose ex (Timothy Olyphant) gets unexpectedly married to a much younger woman (Shay Mitchell of Pretty Little Liars). Marshall obviously called in favors to get Julia Roberts to play Miranda, an unlikable home shopping guru who gave up her only child for adoption. That child is Kristin (Tomorrowland's Britt Robertson) -- and she now has a child of her own, as well as a fiancée (Jack Whitehall). The link between the two is Kate Hudson, who is a walking ad for her own Fabletics line. Her character Jesse has a different set of mother issues. There's also Jason Sudekis as Bradley, a widow who is desperately trying to fill the role of mother and father to his two girls.
I could go on, because there are so many other famous people in the film, including Asif Mandvi, Sarah Chalke, Héctor Elizondo, Margo Martindale, Robert Pine, and Jon Lovitz. Even Jennifer Garner gets squeezed in as Bradley's dead wife. Despite the volume and caliber of acting talent here, some performances are sort of bad. Maybe everyone is just trying to get through the movie. Maybe those actors are trying to stand out. There are just too many people and not enough good dialogue to go around.
With the exception of the wig Roberts sports throughout the film, there's not a whole lot to laugh about in Mother's Day. Moms deserve much better.
The Picture
A rom-com that focuses around motherhood and babies? You can expect this 1.85:1 transfer to be bursting with all sorts of bright colors. The film is filled with outdoor scenery, with tons of sunshine, blue skies, and green grass. Even the indoor scenes are bright and cheery. The detail is just as impressive, with clothing stitches and facial details evident throughout. You can even see the sweat gleaming on the different faces and texture in the surrounding scenery. Mother's Day may have you wincing, but it certainly won't be from the video presentation.
The Sound
Mother's Day has the typical rom-com track, which the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix handles pretty well. The dialogue is always clear, which is a good thing since it's the main focus. It's a shame there aren't more atmospheric sounds. They do pop up on occasion, most notably during a club scene and to deliver party chatter. There's even a moment or two where you'll hear someone talking in the rear speakers. That said, most of the surround action comes from the film's soundtrack, which includes Meghan Trainor, Ed Sheeran, and Bryan Adams.
The Extras
Despite the large cast, Mother's Day has an insanely small selection of extras. Garry Marshall talks through the Gag Reel, which includes almost 10 minutes of flubs and goofing around. There are also six deleted scenes.
Final Thoughts
Mother's Day tugs a little at the heartstrings, has a very famous cast, and comes with a very nice AV presentation. Unfortunately, that's just not enough to make this one worth recommending. The movie is predictable, has some questionable acting, and is as funny as a 99-cent Hallmark card.
Product Details
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