Mother (1996)

Mother (1996): Dir: Albert Brooks / Cast: Albert Brooks, Debbie Reynolds, Rob Morrow, Lisa Kudrow, Spencer Klein: Like many Albert Brooks comedies there is a seemingly realistic and normal setting until we begin to relate to its exaggeration. Here he presents a film about understanding our own mothers. He plays a struggling writer who just went through a divorce. In an attempt to put his life back together he moves back home. Amusing setup travels a rather sitcom appeal but not without conviction. Brooks has a keen ear for humour and dialogue. As director he previously gained acclaim for Lost in America, which seems to be on a broader scope than what he is given here. He and Debbie Reynolds have fantastic comic chemistry together particularly in a scene at a grocery store. This is Reynolds on screen for the first time in two decades. He will come to adjust to his past and face his future but not without humorous forceful jabs from mother who wants her son to get on with life and move out. Supporting roles are unfortunately not as broad or interesting. Rob Morrow plays the son she favors but he is mainly seen through a computer kissing ass. Lisa Kudrow is also featured but this film belongs to the leads whom uphold it nicely. With these complaints aside there are many laughs throughout with a superb message about relationships and where it all begins at home. Score: 8 / 10

Albert Brooks seems to have made a career out of writing, and starring in, successful small films about a man (played by Brooks) who has some self-esteem issues. By small films I mean they can be shot in any city, don't require special effects, and use very good actors but ones who are not fantastically expensive at the time of the filming. I usually find his movies enjoyable, but not "rolling in the aisles with laughter" funny. (Very few shows cause me to laugh out loud, and fewer crack me up the way some of Alec Guinness' classic comedies did.)This film is no exception. It is not the funniest or wittiest film of our time, but it is funny, witty, insightful and points out the humor of the human condition. In this case the story is about a writer (Brooks) who has recently been divorced, again, and is trying to understand why his marriages, and relationships with women in general, have been so unsuccessful. He realizes that the common factor in his marriages is that he marries women who are not supportive of him; they don't see him as a successful author. He comes up with the idea that his problem with women stem from his relationship with his mother (played delightfully by multi-talented Debbie Reynolds), who always finds fault with him but dotes on his younger brother (played by Rob Morrow), a sports agent with a wife and children. So he decides to try an experiment of moving back into his old room in his mother's house to try to learn more about why they interact the way they do.Woody Allen also writes comedies that are strong on character, but Allen seems to me to be on a higher tier, with more complex characters and deeper situations. I don't see Brooks as the West Coast Allen.

Albert Brooks is very good here as average man, John Henderson, who in the midst of writer's block and mild mid-life crisis, decides to visit his mother in Sausalito for a few weeks and tackle his writing issues.Debbie Reynolds is very good as "Mother",quirky and set in her ways, he feels judged by her when she questions him on his failed marriage and relationships, and feels like a failure when compared to his obnoxious sports agent brother (Rob Morrow).There is much material here, as when mother is shopping at the local market and buys the cheap ice cream ("I grew up in the Depression,she says, I don't need expensive ice cream"). There is also an amusing cameo with Anne Haney as a busybody neighbor.There are several fun scenes, he visits the mall and his mother wants to buy him underwear, he picks up an adorable sharpei puppy at a pet store, and its facial expression is similar to his.Brooks' writing is understated and sardonic, which is why it works for me. Never over the top with cheap tricks, his humor is grounded in real life conflict, reminiscent of Neil Simon. Recommended.

Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds star in this family mayhem of laughs; When A 40 year old sci-fi novelist tries to work out life and relationships, he wants to move back in with Momma(Reynolds). He wonders about his divorces, and hopes to solve his problem. Rob Morrow plays brother Jeff, someone who needs a bit of therapy himself. Lisa Kudrow, also stars as sister-in-law Linda.What John realizes, is that his mom was not always "perfect" as he had imagined. Jeff,apparently gets messed-up, and John becomes the most well-adjusted son.This viewer thinks crazy film is sweet, that you want to analyze your own Life as John does. Bravo and Wonderful!