Rated PG-13 for some sexual humor and brief violence, 107 minutes
“Big Mommas” a big stinker
Truthfully, should this come as any surprise, given that the first two “Big Momma” films weren’t exactly classics? What was initially very mildly amusing and a fun urban take on the 1959 classic “Some Like It Hot,” the very very broad comedies have grown worse and more annoying, but that could be due to the acquired taste of Martin Lawrence, a comedian known to grate the nerves.
This third installment continues his shenanigans as Big Momma, except this time he has along a son, “Tropic Thunder’s” Brandon Jackson. With utterly predictable, even offensive material and acting from both the leads that largely consists of running and mugging for the camera in women’s clothes and makeup, this “Big Momma” is easily one of the worst films of the year and one of the worst of Lawrence’s career, which says something.
Malcolm (Lawrence) and stepson Trent (Jackson) go undercover to escape some bad guys at a girls prep school (what else?). Malcolm is Big Momma, Trent his great niece, Charmaine. The same hijinks ensue and Big Momma is pursued by an equally big janitor (Faizon Love) while Trent tries to romance one of the young girls in the school.
“Big Mommas” is simply terrible: cheap, formulaic, offensive laughs that aren’t that funny to begin with. If you’ve seen the other “Big Momma” films (and let’s hope you haven’t) then you’ve essentially seen this one too. Lawrence is finding himself in the same position as another comedian, Eddie Murphy, who was funny back in the day but whose schtick has grown extremely tiresome over the years.
“Big Mommas” takes down another young comedian in Jackson, a moderately funny actor and comedian who may not want to include this on his film resume. It’s also unfortunate that the film makes so much fun of a naturally large person in Love, who must need the acting work to take dreck like this.
There’s nothing worthy about “Big Mommas” so I’d say that it’s really time to put Big Momma to rest for good.
Wes's Grade: F
