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Three generations come together in the week leading up to Mother’s Day.
“Mother’s Day” is the latest star studded ensemble comedy from director Garry Marshall (“Pretty Woman,” “Valentine’s Day”). Bringing together Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, and Julia Roberts along with Jason Sudeikis, it tries to be a celebration of mothers everywhere. This big-hearted comedy invites us all to enjoy the laughter, tears and love as three generations come together in the week leading up to Mother’s Day. Sadly it falls short on all fronts. “Mother’s Day” is excruciatingly predictable and boring.
There are a few moments of rehashed sitcom humor that earned a giggle, and a spattering of sentimental tidbits that warranted the obligatory “aw,” but all in all, the best part of going to see “Mother’s Day,” was that my 15 year-old daughter went with me and we shared a good meal at Studio Movie Grill in Dallas while watching the movie.
Romantic comedy magician Garry Marshall has built a franchise. The formula is simple and effective. Round up hot stars, cast them as loosely-connected sweethearts, longing for love and redemption, and tie the whole thing to the emotion tugging strings of a holiday. In “Mother’s Day,” the lives of five families and seven mothers are woven together.
Some of the gags have cynically hard edges, and sometimes Marshall crafts scenes based solely on adorably mild perversion, such as the opening sequence of the movie in which Jennifer Aniston traipses around in a towel, if only to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she is, as People Magazine swears, The World’s Most Beautiful Woman. (I don’t see it).
Aniston palys Sandy, a divorced single mom jealous that her ex (Timothy Olyphant) has married Tina (Shay Mitchell), a younger woman trying way too hard to play the part of the cool stepmother. We float between her crisis and those of the other players such as uptight career woman Miranda (Julia Roberts), seeking to reconnect with the girl she gave up for adoption. There is also the pair of sisters, Kate Husdon and Sarah Chalke, who hide their love lives from their estranged parents. Rounding out the ensemble is Aniston’s tailor-made match, a widower (Jason Sudeikis) struggling to move on with his love life while preserving the memory of his late wife for his two daughters. What passes in the movie for plot twists are about as shocking as a 90 degree June day in Texas. Far too many plot developments spark more groans than sights or laughter.
So much star power, and not enough of a story or original script to make “Mother’s Day” a movie where they could shine, or be remembered for the work that went into making this movie. It truly feels as though the studio is throwing this one out to burn it off before sending out the “A” list summer movies.
In theaters April 29th
