User Reviews

Yet another vanity project for Lopez, this time as an action hero with fur coats, and the same hair and makeup in pretty much every scene, even if the scenes are 12 years apart. This film needed a more versatile actress, one that would lose the long hair locks and have it messed up, one that could handle - and look convincing, with some dirt and scratches on her face, one who can show some facial expressions relevant to each scene, not the constant "ya I'm tough" expressionless look and tone.

Next we have a story that took three prolific writers who've written some great films and series in the past, to come up with a monotonous, repetitive, cliched and underwhelming screenplay with bits from many better films in this genre. The poorly paced nearly two-hour runtime felt much longer with many dragged out, unnecessary and predictable scenes. You know exactly what's going to happen, and you waste time watching it happen stretched out for so long, you can just fast-forward and not miss a thing. Top that all off with a director that decided to use a blurred fish-eye lens effect in some scenes, I thought I was having migraine episodes.

Had a more convincing actress been cast, it may have made the dull filmmaking a little more bearable, but combined all together, it's not the gift any mom would want for Mother's Day. It's a pass from me, and a very generous 6/10, all for the young Lucy Paez as Zoe, who was the only one that shined in this dull action thriller.

The trailer is deceiving.

It led me to think I was gonna watch something to the tune of NOBODY. Instead we get this bad-ass lady (by way of narration by a law enforcement officer as to her past accolades) who does bad ass things early in the movie and suddenly, seemingly it all finished. Then soon audiences are reminded oh wait another bad guy still has his portion to get through.

Plotholes, cliches, mentorship in badassery to her kid that doesn't pay off and just poor writing makes for this incoherent action flick.

Sure Lopez has done some (better) action flicks in the past but this won't be the one she will be remembered by.

Jessica Chastain does a better job, Jennifer Garner, heck even Michelle Rodriguez too at being an onscreen bad-ass chick.

The only badass scene here really is when she rode that HD 48.

Such a dissapointment.

As this action drama opens a woman is being questioned at an FBI safe house. They want to know about a deal involving former SAS soldier Adrian Lovell and Cuban arms dealer Hector Álvarez. She insists they move to a safer location first. Soon afterwards armed men attack the house. All but one of the agents is killed and Lovell stabs the woman, who we learn is pregnant, in the gut. She and the baby girl survive but she is forced to put the child up for adoption. The surviving agent promises to tell the mother how the girl, named Zoe, is doing. Twelve years pass and the FBI learn that Álvarez is targeting Zoe. Her mother positions herself to protect her but she gets snatched anyway. What follows will lead her to Cuba and then the wilds of Alaska. She will have to face many enemies and teach her daughter how to survive against overwhelming odds.

This might not be a great film but I'd say it was far from terrible and if you enjoy the genre it is well worth a watch. There is a good amount of action. This is nicely varied in style and locations. Inevitably one has to suspend ones disbelief more than once as characters make silly mistakes to help progress the plot and our protagonist easily deals with numerous goons without any real injury before the inevitable confrontation with the antagonist. The cast is solid enough. Jennifer Lopez put in a fine performance as 'The Mother' and young Lucy Paez impressed as Zoe. Obviously there is some violence but, for the most part, it isn't particularly gory meaning it is unlikely to disturb many viewers. Overall a solid action film; not a must watch but worth watching if you enjoy the genre and have a couple of hours to kill; just don't expect anything you haven't seen before.

It seems like every six months we get a regurgitated Netflix "original " film with a seasoned empowered female actress fighting off perpetrators. It's everything you've seen before. Can't imagine even the demographic it's aimed at will find anything new to enjoy about this. Netflix continues to dumb down its "original" content . At least conceive some kind of a ambitious script or do something. They literally think they can just put an actress In a C level John Wick rip off script and it will work out every time. At this point I don't think JLo star power is enough to overcome this blatant cliché offering.

The Mother

This is a movie we've all seen before. Clichéd and formulaic, The Mother rides lazily on action movies before it, without offering anything tangible or new to the genre, and it's such a shame that three prolific writers were involved in making the plot.

Jennifer Lopez's acting is good, but with the material she had to work with, it's a dud. Lucy Paez as Lopez's daughter is a revelatory performance, and this should be a career launcher; her facial mannerisms also remind me of Sydney Sweeney.

The Mother has nothing new to offer, but even with the cliches it's still a watchable flick.

5-6/10.

I'm surprised that so many people dislike this movie so much. It wasn't AMAZING but it was fairly entertaining throughout with some beautiful scenery and lots of action.

The acting wasn't bad and we had no problem following or getting into the storyline. Some parts were a little "yeah as if", but that can be said of almost any action movie.

Considering how many terrible movies are on streaming services right now I dont think this movie deserves the level of low ratings it is recieving.... It wasn't my favorite, but I genuinely wanted to see how it ended (instead of turning it off 15 mins in like so many other movies).

I Wouldn't have been surprised if Steven Segal just showed up and did a sit down flight scene with J-Lo.

It didnt take me long to realise the kind of film I was watching, and truthfully I only made it past the first act. Some scenes were straight up rip offs of other Hollywood films that did the same sequences much better. J-Lo got very annoying very quickly with her "Im a badass boss" attitude that didnt waiver long enough for me to get to know any other traits of her character. One straight face monotonous performance that got very cold very fast.

Netflix is smart, because they dont care about reviews, they know for a fact people are going to click on this film because its a click away, they know they will prolly make some money from this barely passable film.

This really wasn't a bad movie at all. It was full of action, they were even a couple parts that brought me to tears. I found it to be very entertaining, and I took it for what it was. No comparisons.

Honestly, there are very few movies like this so that is why I found it enjoyable.

Some of these people criticizing need to give credit where credit is due!

Please don't get me wrong, I rated it an 8, because of course it was a little predictable; which was to be expected by the title and the synopsis. The acting wasn't terrible, and her character was believable.

I am not a Jennifer Lopez superfan or anything, but it really wasn't that bad.

As "The Mother" (2023 release; 117 min.) opens, J-Lo's character, later known as "The Mother" is highly pregnant and being interviewed in an FBI safehouse in Indiana, but things go wrong quicky, and she barely makes it out alive. She delivers a baby girl but for safety reasons, the girl is placed in the care of an adoptive family. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is an almost all=female production, directed by Niki Caro ("Mulan"), written by Misha Green ("Lovecraft Country", and produced by and starring Jennifer Lopez. J-Lo returns to her "bad-ass" persona, playing a one-woman army who will stop at nothing to protect her daughter. The movie is plot-heavy so the less said about that, the better. I will say this: I was genuinely shocked how solid and entertaining this movie turned out to be. The first hour is almost perfect, with perfect pacing, lots of well-staged action scenes, and an overall gritty and determined atmosphere. The movie's second hour is not quite as solid, but certainly not bad either. Joseph Fiennes is a decent "baddie". Bottom line: I was more than pleasantly surprised by this movie. Perhaps I started watching this with low expectations, but who cares.

"The Mother" has been pushed in the weeks leading up to its release. It started streaming on Netflix this weekend. If you are in the mood for a solid action-packed and gritty movie, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

The mother tells the story of a hardened ex war veteran on the run from a dangerous past lover, only to be forced out of action to protect the daughter she was asked to abandon.

The big issue with this movie is it feels like it is straight of out 1993 without any 90s charm. It is filled with cheesy "poetic" one liners, uninteresting and indestructible characters, and a lame uninspired ending. The bruises shown don't match the violence we see.

The pacing is fine and the actors do what they can with what they are given. Jennifer Lopez is honestly acting her butt off in my opinion-the movie is just terrible and I only fault her for doing this movie in the first place. There are some really good action scenes, but also some that made me audibly laugh out loud. It wants to be grounded in reality sometimes but then takes us completely out of it at others. The lack of consistency is just one of many issues.

The crazy thing to me is I am just not sure how it took three writers to come up with this movie. It is uninspired, unoriginal and a another failure from Netflix.

I don't know why but, since a decade now, and more than fifteen years after Luc Besson's NIKITA, back in 1990, no one can deny that there legions, batches of action flicks showing female fighters, fist, gun fighters. Women playing men's roles. Of course this kind of scheme was common in the American Indie industry during the seventies, remember the Grindhouse movies, destined for drive in audiences, Grindhouse or psychotronic, exploitation features taking advantage to the women's liberation movements that spread all over the country and even beyond.... Hollywood could not affaord to approve, so the independant movies did it instead. And also women's prison movies. It stopped during the eighties, for one decade, then it came back for a short while before appearing again since the 2010s and especially since the Harvey Weinstein affair and the feminist fashion that rapidly followed,spreading all over the world. Only now, the quality is a bit better, with once in a while a prestigious cast; here Jenny Lopez or a couple of years ago Jessica Chastain - AVA.... This movie is surprise less but efficient, a excellent time waster despite an expected ending.

The basic storyline is a little bit out there, but not totally incredible, as some reviewers accuse it of being. I don't agree with those who say J-Lo can't act, and this role may have been what she needed to show her abilities. She just isn't portraying an unbelievable badass as some of the younger stars routinely do these days, so viewers looking for that will be disappointed.

The villains are a little cartoonish and the portrayals of their activities aren't credible, I agree, but J-Lo's role isn't too bad. The connections between her and an FBI agent who somehow stayed in touch with the Zoe character are thin and not the best way to reduce the casting demands, but this is a movie-length feature, not a series. The extended connections between characters that could be developed in a limited series had to be truncated to fit the budget. So it goes.

All of the needlessly vicious ratings came from reviewers who can't spell or express their views coherently. This isn't a terrible movie, and it isn't a great movie, but it's not bad enough that I would try to discourage anyone from giving it a try. Reviewers who do that mystify me.

Look...people write these reviews about movies like this one, as if they have to be Oscar worthy. Well...they don't. I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. The story line is very familiar and yes, it has probably been done two dozen times. However, that doesn't mean it has to be a bad movie just because we all know the plot...and even the outcome. I mean...what do people expect, all the good people to die in the end? Yeah right, that has never happened in ANY movie. And people love to write, "so predictable". Well...how many action movies aren't predictable? I mean really! I really enjoyed this movie and thought it had just a tad bit more to offer than your typical, "kidnapped child revenge movie".

This is not the best movie ever made, but it's definitely worth a watch. It's an action movie for sure, but for some reason the writers felt the need to add a child to the mix. I don't see why the bad guys couldn't come after the good guy without there being a child to protect. That is unless you can't envision a woman being a badass on her own account, then of course she must be maternal.

Jennifer Lopez does a better job than I thought she would, and definitely plays a tough guy very well. I hope she plays this kind of role again, but maybe without having to be maternal next time. Just being a regular assassin is enough for Jason Bourne, it should be enough for Lopez. But aside from that, sure, it's a decent watch. Not awesome, but not horrible. Just a regular action movie. For those of us that like action movies, it's worth a bag of popcorn.

Take that in every way that it is meant:

1. WHY, J-Lo; WHY do you keep making movies?

2. Why, oh why J-Lo, out of all available actresses?

3. Why J-Lo as a viewing choice?

Do you know of anyone, ever, who you can recall saying: "Hey, let's go catch the new J-Lo flick that just came out". I don't.

There was a television show I caught once with J-Lo starring, and it was not bad. It wasn't very memorable either, however, since I don't remember what it was called. A FILM star, no matter how many films she is in, she will never be. (Of course, just watch her win some acting award in twenty years and prove me wrong). :)

The best description for this latest cliched borefest, The Mother, would best be: FORCED. Forced plot; forced acting; forced self-funded(?) vanity project to stay relevant? Not sure about the last one, but my head can't wrap around how it is that she is still cast in films.

Lastly, I know it sounds as if I am placing the entire blame for this film not being particularly watch-worthy on J-Lo's shoulders, and that is not what I intended. The film drops the ball in almost every area.

Sorry :(, but this one is a suggested 'skip'.

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Oh, and lastly, those who are downvoting those of us who are properly rating this a 4-or-below, REALLY need to go watch the TV SHOW "Silo" so as to let Rebecca Ferguson treat them to a Master Class in what ACTING should be.

Storyline was pretty predictable, its a story that most of us have seen before, there wasn't much that happened that I didn't guess was beforehand; but honestly I really enjoyed watching this.

I would just say don't go into it expecting a brand new story that is full of twists and turns, because you would be disappointed. Not to say that the storyline itself was disappointing at all, because I would have to say that that's far from it.

There are a few action scenes, but it's not action-packed at all, this is definitely more focused on the actual story, which honestly, I prefer

I read some reviews beforehand and it almost put me off, but I'm glad that I watched it. J-Lo is so much better than people give her credit for. Great performance, overall 8/10.

This mother for me started out as a ten star, then it dropped down to seven stars, the more you get into the movie, it's a solid six for me, it's entertaining right up to the point where they introduce the young girl, it seems Hollywood Writers use the same old tired script for little girls in movies they are annoying, pigheaded, a pain in the butt and won't listen, I guess the figure it's a tried tired a d true scenario for little annoying girls, if it were me, I would have left that little monster on the freeway someplace, gawd was she annoying, anyway, the movie is entertaining, it has good action sequences, but it was still predictable, maybe the Hollywood need to stay on strike if this is the best they can do. I, was never a Jennifer Lopez fan, and this movie didn't do much to change that opinion, I always say she's all hype, still living off her hype in "In Living Color" she was bad then and still bad today, But I guess anything for a dollar, not that she needs it. This movie STINKS!

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

"The Mother" attempts to deliver a fast-paced action experience, but unfortunately, it falls short of bringing anything new to the table. While the film does showcase some well-shot and engaging action sequences at the beginning, it fails to deliver in terms of character development and emotional depth.

From the start, it becomes apparent that "The Mother" prioritizes action over substance. While the action sequences may be visually appealing, they lack originality and fail to offer any fresh ideas or innovative choreography. The film becomes a predictable series of adrenaline-fueled moments, with little to surprise or captivate the audience.

One of the major shortcomings of "The Mother" is the lack of character development. The characters feel one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection from the audience. The film misses an opportunity to explore the complex relationships, internal conflicts, and personal growth that could have added depth to the story. By neglecting these elements, the film becomes superficial, leaving viewers with a sense of disappointment.

Furthermore, the final fight scene is marred by a questionable decision made by the villain. It feels contrived and unrealistic when the antagonist fails to take an easy shot, expecting a moment of vulnerability from the protagonist. This lapse in logic takes away from the overall credibility of the film and leaves the audience scratching their heads.

Overall, "The Mother" falls into the realm of mediocrity. While it starts off with well-executed action sequences, it fails to offer anything substantial in terms of storytelling or character development. The lack of emotional depth and conflict limits the film's potential to truly engage and resonate with the audience.

"The Mother" may provide some fleeting entertainment for action enthusiasts who are solely seeking adrenaline-pumping sequences. However, for those looking for a more compelling and thought-provoking cinematic experience, this film may leave them feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

This film is essentially a 2023 remake of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Commando movie with a women protagonist, and instead of tropical island scenes it takes place in Alaska. It has the same cheesy and over the top cliches, but without the self-awareness that it's such. Jennifer Lopez is good enough in the role of an action hero type, but the story, script, and filmography are disjointed and convoluted. The major problem is it has the absurdly unrealistic aspects of a shoot-em-up movie (laughably impossible feats, innumerable henchmen taken out with ease, and a scar-faced antagonist) while trying to be a serious action/drama film. It would have been better if they had chosen one or the other.

The Mother is an action film with hard edges and an emotional payoff. Jennifer Lopez plays a tough chick that is formidable, She is back in her element as the Tough Chick. It is a Netflix action thriller with a slightly silly plot. The movie uses existing clichés to entertain, but does so well enough to satisfy the minimum quality of entertaining for a while. Lopez and her stunt doubles attempt to bring some intensity to the physical activity, despite miscasting and storytelling choices. Niki Caro's direction and Jennifer Lopez's star quality maintain the film's commitment to being a mother-daughter story, despite the formulaic beats of an assassin revenge thriller.

(2023) The Mother ACTION THRILLER

Isn't it obvious by now that Netflix CEO's of Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos "never" liked going to the theaters anymore, and prefer them or their viewers to stay at home and gain weight, like they do. It would mean they would have to burn off some calories as opposed to having their snacks brought over to them, rather than to have them having to wait in line at the snack stand. Yes, as soon as I saw the movie Wall-E, the first thing I thought about are the viewers who have no choice every time there's a new release by Netflix s/he have to watch them either by their lonesome selves or with others in a small room, as opposed to them who must own their own private theater majority of the Netflix subscribers does "not" have. That Netflix CEOs rather have their viewers live like recluses or like hermits who have no interaction with nobody else other than that keyboard or Iphone like everybody else.

Anyways, the movie "The Mother" is reference to Jennifer Lopez character as she was a former professional sniper, forced to come out of retirement in a save situation to save her actual daughter Zoe (Lucy Paez) after she was notified she was kidnapped by former flame and weapons and human trafficker, Hector (Gael García Bernal). In terms of the action, on the first sequence where she is sniping people on a parking lot, and it's like the only weapon she brings with her is a sniper gun- not a hand gun, mind you. Just in case people will come after her, even though viewers see her have other guns as well besides a sniper gun. The second action sequence was almost reminiscent of the end of the Equalizer as the music score was similar to that particular film. And again, I love it when other bad guys see other former men dead, they like do not notify anyone about it like head sets don't exist or something.