Mother's Day movie filled with cliches and estrogen

Movie Title:      Mother’s Day

  

Grade:   C

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 58 minutes

In a Nutshell:    Full of sappy clichés, but if you have estrogen, you might still cry. The movie showcases all kinds of mothers.  

Mother’s Day can be a very difficult day for many mothers and this film shows that very well.

Is director Garry Marshall going to make a Father's Day movie?  Would anyone see it?

Uplifting theme: 

• You better do something nice for your mother on Mother’s Day!  Just kidding…the film didn’t really preach that.  I’m just sayin…
• Mothers come in all forms.  Whatever shape or size, season or situation, motherhood is a sacrifice and act of love like no other.

Things I liked:

• The cast is full of big names: Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Julia Roberts, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Garner, Jon Lovitz, Britt  Robertson, and more.
• Kate Hudson is gorgeous and in amazing shape.   Have you seen her newest business venture?  She co-founded Fabletics, a lifestyle athletic wear brand and store.  One of her stores just opened up near me.  I'd buy everything in the store if it would make me look like her.
• Sandy and Bradley meet in Sprouts Farmers Market store.  Have you ever been there? 
• The movie features a cute song by Meghan Trainer appropriately entitled “Mom”.
• There are some cute outtakes during the rolling credits at the end.

Things I didn’t like:

• What town on earth has a Mother’s Day parade?
• It’s hard to feel sorry for these beautiful women with hard bodies and beautiful houses.
• Margo Martindale is always delightful, but in this movie she plays a truly insensitive, judgmental mother.
• The situations and lines are painfully contrived and predictable.

Funny lines:

•  “There’s no texting in soccer.” – Bradley (Jason Sudeikis)
• “You don’t go into marriage thinking you’ll get a divorce, but life happens, and when it does…you get more closet space.” – Sandy (Jennifer Aniston)
• “A pox on your whistle!” – Bradley's daughter
• “His eyes have cataracts.  Mine have hope.” – comedienne in bar 
• “And I put on a bra for this?” – Flo (Margo Martindale)
• “I don’t get that joke, but it sounds racist…and funny.” – Sonia (Anoush Nevart)
• “You look just like me…in the summer time.” -  Flo to her little brown grandson.

• Tips for parents:   
• 1 F-bomb.
• Most kids will be fairly bored.
• Pre-marital sex, two lesbians, some racist jokes.

Miracles from Heaven encourages Christians not to lose their faith

Movie Title:     Miracles From Heaven

Grade:   B

Rating:   PG, 1 hour 49 minutes

In a Nutshell:    Based on true events, this inspiring story is geared towards Christians who sometimes struggle with their faith when when hard times come. 

Jennifer Garner plays Christy Beam, who explains, “A miracle is defined as something not explicable by natural or scientific laws.  But then, how do you explain it?  How does it happen?  Who or what is behind it?”  

Uplifting theme: 

• “It’s alright, Mom.  Not everyone is going to believe.  They’ll get there when they get there.” – Anna Beam
• Albert Einstein said there are only two ways of looking at life: one is as though nothing is a miracle and the other is though everything is a miracle.
• “Miracles are goodness. Miracles are God.  Miracles are God’s way of letting us know He is here.” – Christy
• Faith is peace.

Things I liked:

• Jennifer Garner does a wonderful job as a faithful mother.  I felt her pain.  She made me weep. Since filming this faith-based movie, she has become more vocal about her own Christian beliefs.
• It's interesting how a tree provides healing, like the symbolism of the biblical tree of life.
• It’s always a pleasure to see Queen Latifah. 
• The mom has a sweet tradition of going into each of her daughter’s bedrooms at night to ask them if they want to share any of their prayers with her.  They chat about what’s on their hearts and what they talked to God about.
• I can relate to a mother who fiercely fights for her children.  Doctors don’t know everything.  I loved it when the mom refused to accept the various doctors’ diagnoses, because she knew that something was wrong.  Mothers know their children better than anyone.  Thank God...literally...for mothers.
• You get to see parts of beautiful Boston.  I love that city!
• I was touched by the many good people that came into the Beam family’s life just when they needed supportive friends the most.  We can be there for each other.  We need to be there for each other.
• At the end of the movie, you get to see video clips of the real Beam family who experienced this story.
• How wonderful to have such a loving, kind caregiver as Dr. Nurko, played by Eugenio Derbez.  He reminded me of the lovable Patch Adams played by Robin Williams.
• The lovely Kylie Rogers plays Anna Beam.  I’m sure we’ll be seeing her in many more movies.  She did a great job.

Things I didn’t like:

• The film is a bit slow moving.
• I'm simply dumbfounded that there are still Christians in the world today who think that if God doesn’t heal a person that it means someone has sinned.  
• It would be nice if we just had to have enough faith and then everything would be OK.  Sometimes things don’t work out. it's not as picture perfect and our challenges aren't always wrapped up neatly in a pretty bow. Here’s the deal though…we still need to have faith.
• I wish we could have seen more about Anna's experience in heaven.  I have always been fascinated with “Near Death Experiences.”  This story reminded me a lot of the movie Heaven is for Real , which was produced by the same peeps.  You can read my movie review for that film here.
• The movie preaches a little bit to the choir, but that’s OK.
• A lot movie critics hate this movie.  Sure, it's not a big blockbuster with mind-blowing action and CGI.  Yes, it's cheesy and preachy.  So.  It's nice to have a simple faith-building option in the theater.

Interesting lines:

•  “Why do you think God hasn’t healed me?” – Anna

“There are so many things I don’t know.  But I do know that God loves you.” – Christy

• “We need a solution and we need it now.” – Christy

“We’ll get it.” –  Kevin Beam

“Oh, yeah?  How?” – Christy

“By not losing our faith.” – Kevin Beam (Martin Henderson)

Inspiring lines:

• “There’s a common phrase: No pain, no gain.  And it is, of course, attributed to the sculpting of our bodies, but the same principle can be applied to the sculpting of our character and the deepening of our spiritual life.” – Pastor Scott
• Faith is really the only true shelter.” – Pastor Scott
• Just because things aren’t ok, doesn’t mean there isn’t a loving God.” – Pastor Scott
• Christy and Kevin Beam always tell each other “It’s a good life.”   Studies show that if we’re grateful and positive, we will see the good in our lives and actually feel happier.
• “You either roll with it, or you get rolled on.” – Angela (Queen Latifa)

Funny lines:

• “You know you could go to hell for swearing.” – Abby Beam“I’m not going to hell!  Hell is in California.” -  Adelyn Beam

Tips for parents:   

• There’s a scene where a bunch of people are outside at a BBQ.  It shows everyone having a great time socializing, and then it scans past a table of teenage girls who are all on their cell phones, ignoring one another as they text other friends.    Ask your kids if they noticed it and use that opportunity to talk about cell phone etiquette. 
• No profanity.
• This is definitely a family-friendly film.
• Death, pain, and suffering are big topics.

If you'd like to learn more about the Beam family's experience, you can read it in:

 

Alexander's movie isn't the greatest, but it's not terrible, horrible, no good or bad either

Movie Title:  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

PG

80 minutes

Grade:  B

In a Nutshell: 

Based on Judith Viorst’s beloved 1972 child’s book, this slapstick and warmhearted family film is a simple illustration of how messy all of our lives often are.  It’s somewhat cathartic to see that you’re not the only one in the world who struggles with endless diapers or beat-up cars or busy days run amuck.

It’s not the greatest movie you’ve ever seen, but it’s also not terrible, horrible, no good, or bad.  The movie is harmless and clean fun for all ages.  

Uplifting theme: 

• Alexander wraps it all up in the end with this wise advice: “You gotta have the bad days so you can love the good days even more.”
• There is no such thing as the perfect day or the perfect family for that matter. What’s truly most important is our family and enjoying this journey we call life.

Things I liked:

• Steve Carell charms with his wit and comedic talent.  Jennifer Garner is believable as a loving, hard-working mother.  Ed Oxenbould does a good job as Alexander.
• Baby Trevor is adorable.  I hated seeing him cry.  Did they poke him or something?  I mean, how do you get a baby to cry on cue? Trevor was played by twins Elise and Zoey Vargas.
• The source material is only 32 pages long, so creating a movie around it could be a daunting task, but Rob Lieber’s script stays true to the zany feeling of the book.
• I loved seeing Dick Van Dyke.  What an iconic, beloved actor.  He’s looking great still!  It's too bad that they have him reading a book that says "taking a dump" a bunch of times.  He's too classy for that.
• Celia (played by Bella Thorne) is an egocentric, spoiled girlfriend who the audience I sat with loved to hate.

Things I didn’t like:

• They invented the word “Fommy” to mean a stay-at-home father who cares for the children like a mommy.  Kinda dumb. 
• There are a few scenes that fall flat, but the overall manic pacing of the film pulls you along for the ride.
• I would love to have seen more of Megan Mullally.
• Why is it everyone has to say the "P" word all the time now in movies and on TV shows?  (male anatomical body party)

Funny lines:

• “Who’s this kid Parker?” – Ben Cooper (the dad)

“He’s this really cool kid with a hot tub and ADHD.”  - Alexander

• “Another bad party can ruin your rep forever.” – Paul Dumphy
• “Sorry we’re late.  We had a little diaper drama at Trader Joe’s.” – Ben
• “I’m hashtag blessed, you know.”  - Anthony
• “Don’t blow my dickereedoo!” – Alexander

“Then what’s it for?” - Anthony

Tips for parents:   

• This is a feel-good movie that will make you want to pull together more as a family.  That’s what families are for, right?  There should be one place and one group of people in this world who can be a refuge from the storm in your life: your family. 
• It’s not a bad idea to teach your kids how to get gum out of their hair…the correct way.
• The sister does all kinds of fun tongue-twisters your family can tackle.
• Young kids can learn all about Australia, Vegemite and kangaroos for their next school report.
• There are some "Thunder from Down Under" male strippers at the end.  They don't actually strip, but they begin to before the parents realize what they're doing and then stop them.
•