Movie Review: Mother’s Day is a bittersweet experience

Movies based on events have been around since forever and this week, we review Mother’s Day, a film that stars Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson – some of the biggest names in Hollywood today.

 

Mother’s Day is nearing, adding more chaos and confusion to the lives of all the characters in the film. There’s Sandy (Jennifer Aniston) and Henry (Timothy Olyphant), a divorced couple who are still good friends. But it isn’t all hunky dory between the duo - Sandy’s life begins to go haywire when Henry decides to get married to someone years younger, Tina (Shay Mitchell).  

 

There’s the young couple Zack (Jake Whitehall) and Kristin (Britt Robertson) who are contemplating marriage, but Kristin isn’t ready yet.

 

Then there’s Jesse (Kate Hudson) who along with her sister suddenly turns hostess to their mother, Flo (Margo Martindale) from Texas, whom she hasn’t spoke to since years. Of the two sisters, one’s married an Indian and another’s in a same-sex relationship – something that they keep a secret from their parents.

 

To add to the already overcrowded cast is Bradley (Jason Sudekis) and his two daughters, who are still coming to terms with the loss of a wife and a mother.

 

Are you confused already? Wait, there’s more. Julia-none-other-than-Roberts plays the role of a celeb host/writer Miranda who has given up on her family life, a long time ago.

 

Mother’s Day is not a bad film, but it is a task to like it – you will have a hard time keeping track of the four parallel stories going on. But the film does have its moments.

 

The audience might feel like they are watching the seventh episode of season three of a popular television series at the film’s beginning. Maybe that’s a ploy to make the audience experience the chaotic life of the characters but it only leaves you overwhelmed – and not in a good way.

 

But who do we call when we are in trouble? Our mommy, right? Well, that’s what happens with this film too. Mother’s Day strides into another gear and into the hearts of the audiences with the arrival of Margo Martindale as Flo into her daughter’s house. As Margo overcomes her biases in life, so does the audience and warms up to the stories that are playing on screen.

 

Of course, a lot of the credit goes to the excellent performances of the strong cast.  

 

After all, which other movie gives you a chance to see Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston share screen space? Those two are a charm together. Go on, indulge.