Stars and mega diva Jennifer Lopez (J-Lo) might be jealous to see their young colleague, who is rising as an action star, Ana de Armas. As one of the producers, J-Lo enlisted seasoned female filmmaker Niki Caro to work on the action thriller film, “The Mother.” Apart from the star, this film also features Joseph Fiennes, Gael Garcia Bernal, Omary Hadwick, and Lucy Paez. With the star power and a seasoned filmmaker, can this film make a mark among similar movies in the market?
A reliable soldier and killer with the initials “The Mother” (Lopez) seeks protection from the FBI in pursuit of Adrian Lovell (former British special military) and Victor Alvares (arms dealer), with whom she had an intimate relationship. Fortunately, in an attack, The Mother narrowly escapes death, and her baby is born safely. The baby is entrusted to foster parents, while The Mother isolates herself in a remote location. Twelve years later, the FBI contacts The Mother because her daughter is now being targeted by Adrian and Victor again. The Mother then returns to the field once again.
Caro, known for her work on high-quality women’s films such as “The Whale Rider” and “North Country,” seems to have lost her touch. Compared to her previous works, “The Mother” is a mediocre film of inferior quality, as if different filmmakers made the films mentioned above.
One of the biggest problems is the script. All main characters need strong backgrounds and characterizations. The mother’s story progresses slowly, but it doesn’t help the audience sympathize with the protagonist. One significant point is unclear: what connection does the mother have with the antagonist related to her daughter?
If the antagonists were targeting the mother, and they succeeded in kidnapping Zoe, why weren’t they serious about doing the same to the mother (action in Cuba and at an intersection road)? Why not kill Zoe before her mother? Whether it’s revenge or not, this is a personal matter. Did the mother bring evidence, like a microchip, that could undermine their crime business? Not really. There is a missing motive here, causing the inner relationship between mother and daughter to feel forced, despite the film’s intentions.
“The Mother” is a failed attempt to elevate J-Lo as an action star due to a terrible script. The script appears hastily executed for whatever reason, and the filmmaker fails to present a suspenseful and evocative family-thriller action. Emotions between mother and daughter are almost nonexistent, with several scenes and endings having questionable moral aspects. A similar film released by Netflix last year, starring aging actress Allison Janney, entitled “Lou,” provides a far more valuable and dignified spectacle than this.
