Big Momma's House (2000)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Raja Gosnell

Writers (WGA):

Darryl Quarles (story)
Darryl Quarles (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 June 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

This FBI agent is going undercover... and he's concealing more than a weapon.

Plot:

An FBI agent disguises himself as an old lady to protect a beautiful federal witness and her son.

Plot Keywords:

Disguise | FBI | Southern | Undercover | Church

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Martin Lawrence	...	Malcolm Turner
Nia Long	...	Sherry Pierce
Paul Giamatti	...	John
Jascha Washington	...	Trent Pierce
Terrence Howard	...	Lester Vesco (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Anthony Anderson	...	Nolan
Ella Mitchell	...	Hattie Mae Pierce (Big Momma)
Carl Wright	...	Ben Rawley
Phyllis Applegate	...	Sadie
Starletta DuPois	...	Miss Patterson
Jessie Mae Holmes	...	Miss Other Patterson
Nicole Prescott	...	Lena
Octavia Spencer	...	Twila (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Tichina Arnold	...	Ritha
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Reverend

Also Known As:

Big Mamas Haus (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude humor including sexual innuendo, and for language and some violence.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:18SX | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG (original rating) | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 (cut) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37509) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Chapman University - One University Drive, Orange, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Filming and postproduction took place over a period of only 5 months.

Goofs:

Continuity: Malcolm's earring(s) wanders between takes, from right to left ear and from both ears to none.

Quotes:

Nolan: Now lets say you walking down the street, strutting yo stuff, and someby yells out and screams "Hey baby! Why don't you back that thing up and show me whatcha got and whatcha gon do?"
Big Momma: I'd say imma size 10, and I'm about to cram it up his boney ass!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Office: Weight Loss (#5.1)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Everytime I Feel the Spirit

Not excellent, but often funny

Martin Lawrence is often trusty in the world of comedy. Maybe I'm just overcoming his awful "Blue Streak," but I felt this comedy--though saggy at times--was quite funny. The premise is undoubtedly implausible. How's a whole neighborhood going to believe that this undercover cop with a latex body that looks somewhat like Big Momma is actually Big Momma? There's a lot of disbelief to suspend. But the gags often worked and I can say I laughed about 75 percent of the time. Some are predictable, like when Big Momma takes a karate class and starts beating the teacher--played by Anthony Anderson--to a pulp, but they still work due to the way they're handled. And Lawrence turns in yet another fine comic performance, with a script that could've used a rewrite but was nowhere near as bad as the crackerjack script he had to work with in "Blue Streak." The talented comic helps keep the movie togehter, with a little assistance from the supporting cast. Paul Giamatti, who was great as Pig Vomit in the acclaimed "Private Parts," is funny as Lawrence's partner. We also have "Me Myself and Irene's" Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer.

The plot is chaotic, sometimes predictable, and becomes more and more implausible by the minute but the comedy works and because of that we're able to excuse the script's shortcomings. "Big Momma" doesn't deliver the biggest laughs, but it's good, fun entertainment on a lonely weekday afternoon.

My score: 7 (out of 10)