There are two types of people in the world: those who own Big Mommas on DVD/Blu-ray and those reading this review. Actually, let’s back up – the second sequel to the 2000 surprise hit, Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son finds detective Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) slipping on the fat suit yet again. Turner’s son Trent (Brandon T. Jackson, promising in Tropic Thunder) snuck his way into Dad’s crime scene and is now a key witness that a paper-thin Russian mobster stereotype wants to be rid of. The murdered witness expires with a clue on his lips that leads Turner to an all-girl school. Trent needs to disappear for a while, so why not pass down a disturbing habit that Turner indulges in all too frequently?
Big Mommas aims low and delivers exactly the simplistic entertainment you shelled out your cash for. There are no surprises here, excepting Faizon Love as a horny janitor. Mr. Love, please branch out – you deserve better, while Mr. Lawrence may be content to do this for the rest of his life. With a plot lifted in bunches from Some Like It Hot, the film pulls no punches, like it or not. John Whitesell (who directed the 2nd film in the trilogy) keeps things moving and shoots sudden dance sequences and a car chase with enough vitality to make the film at least palatable.
As I watched the screener, I cannot comment on the audio/video quality, but rest assured I don’t see this film being used as a hallmark for home theater showoffs. For the sake of journalistic integrity (read: what was I thinking?), I saw the Extended version of the film, included on the DVD with the Theatrical. Apparently, the differences are nill – someone much braver than me saw the film twice and noted them here .
DVD Bonus Features
None but that may be due to the screener.
"Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son" is on sale June 14, 2011 and is rated PG13. Action, Comedy, Crime, Romance. Directed by John Whitesell. Written by Matthew Fogel (screenplay),Don Rhymer (story) and Matthew Fogel (story), Darryl Quarles (characters). Starring Brandon T Jackson, Faizon Love, Martin Lawrence.
