Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Blu-ray

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (Blu-ray Combo Pack)
Directed by John Whitesell

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Year: 2011
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1   1080p   AVC codec
Running Time: 107 minutes
Rating: PG-13/NR
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English; Dolby Digital 5.1 French, Spanish
Subtitles: SDH, Spanish

Region: A
MSRP: $ 39.99

Release Date: June 14, 2011

 Review Date: June 25, 2011 

The Film

1.5/5

Going to the “Big Momma” well for a third time was a foolhardy venture for all concerned since there is nothing very special or particularly unique about John Whitesell’s Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son. Drag comedies might work one time with an exceptional premise (Some Like It Hot proved that in spades), but the idea of men in drag, and particularly in fat suit drag, isn’t the least bit funny the third time around. Not only is the drag stuff rather pallid, but the remainder of the movie is padded beyond endurance with unfunny pratfalls and musical numbers that exist for no reason other than to extend the film’s running time. What should have been a ninety minute movie is almost two hours long, excruciating for all but the most masochistic.

Learning that a flash drive that he needs for an FBI operation has been hidden somewhere on the grounds of the Georgia Girls School of the Arts in Atlanta, agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) must go undercover once again as Big Momma, this time posing as the house mother for a group of talented young ladies interested in the fine arts. Because his stepson Trent (Brandon T. Jackson) was spotted by the Russian mobster (Tony Curran) interested in the flash drive, Malcolm takes Trent with him in his own fat suit disguise as Charmaine, his niece. While trying to find the drive, both men have romantic issues to deal with. Trent falls hard for music student Haley (Jessica Lucas) while once again Momma has to fight off the advances of a loser, lustful man, this time the school custodian Kurtis Kool (Faizon Love). Also adding complications to their investigation is queen bee of the campus Jasmine (Portia Doubleday) who despises Charmaine’s lack of class and Momma’s continual authority over her.

The only reason to do a third Big Momma movie is if there’s something new and different to add to the mix. True, screenwriter Matthew Fogel adds the younger Trent to the mix, but as neither of the men look remotely like real women for even a second, one needs more than a suspension of disbelief to get past that first obstacle toward acceptance of this premise for the third time. Of course, none of this would matter if there was anything remotely funny about the verbal or visual gags plopped into the movie, but there’s simply nothing here. Director John Whitesell (who helmed the last one of these Momma films in 2006) seems to think that falling down is hilarious, so Big Momma and Charmaine both take repeated big spills throughout the movie. There is also an overabundance of situations where Momma and/or Charmaine must be in intimate situations with girls and must control their libidos, something that wasn’t particularly funny the first time and definitely isn’t funny on the third or fourth try. What’s most noticeable, though, are the completely irrelevant sequences which dot the movie. In addition to all these superfluous musical numbers: the opening rap song “Lyrical Miracle,” “Ain’t Nobody Loves Me Better” as a cafeteria get together, “Don’t Stop” as the girls do a Busby Berkeley-style number in a bathroom,” “Baby, You Know” between the two young lovers (sung twice), and extended ballet sequences, we also have a long fashion show as the girls parade around in nighties and a dance duet between the young lovers. Later on, there is the expected wild car chase through busy Atlanta streets in which process phototgraphy is integrated so poorly into the stunt shots that it’s embarrassing, and a tedious final reel lovers’ spat that brings the movie to a dead halt. The humor is really lacking, so a little forced sentiment is thrown in during the film’s final ten minutes, but by then the movie’s irredeemable. It’s a lost cause.

Essaying Big Momma for the third time, Martin Lawrence can play this kind of thing with little effort (apart from lugging around the enormous fat suit in the hot, humid conditions of the South in the summer), so fans may enjoy it while the rest of us puzzle on the popularity of it all. Brandon T. Jackson isn’t the least convincing as Charmaine but has ease before the camera when the skirt comes off and Trent peeps out. Love interest Jessica Lucas sings well and makes a fine match with Jackson. Portia Doubleday as the bitchy BWOC is saddled with a simple-minded, stock character who takes the expected last minute change of demeanor with no surprise whatsoever. A subplot involving art student Mia who’s been dumped by her boy friend is played by Michelle Ang nicely but is superfluous to the plot and adds even more minutes to a film that didn’t need to be any longer. Tony Curran plays the predictable Russian bad guy with a slipshod accent.

Video Quality

4/5

The film has been framed at its theatrical 2.40:1 aspect ratio and is presented in 1080p using the AVC codec. Color saturation levels are very nicely achieved, and flesh tones seem natural and appealing. Clarity is usually very good except for certain scenes which seem to have a slight kind of haze that hangs over the scene. Contrast is dialed in expertly, but black levels are the transfer’s weakest element being rather milky and indistinct. The film has been divided into 28 chapters for both the theatrical and extended cuts.

Audio Quality

3.5/5

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix emphasizes the front three channels at the expense of the rear channels. Even in action showpieces like the chase through Atlanta or the big musical numbers, the lack of rear channel utilization is noticeable. Yes, the music can fill the rears at opportune moments, but the sound design seems unsophisticated for a film with a mix of so many potentially immersive elements. The music does generate a good, strong throb of bass which the LFE channel handles nicely.

Special Features

3/5

The disc offers both the theatrical version of the movie and an unrated, extended version. The unrated version is about six minutes longer but with no additional chapters on the disc.

The audio commentary (available only with the theatrical cut) is a chatty affair featuring director John Whitesell, producer David Friendly, and actors Brandon Jackson, Jessica Lucas, and Portia Doubleday. The girls don’t talk as much as the men, but all contribute toward describing the filmmaking experience with reasonable clarity and interest.

All of the featurettes are presented in 1080p.

There are seven deleted scenes which can be viewed separately or in one 11 ¾-minute grouping.

“Song and Dance: Momma Style” is the most interesting of the set’s featurettes, 5 ¾ minutes in which the film’s director, choreographer, and actors Portia Doubleday, Jessica Lucas, Brandon Jackson, and Martin Lawrence discuss the making of the film’s many musical numbers.

“Bigger Busts Countdown” is a featurette designed to introduce unknowing viewers to the other Big Momma films. It’s what the producers consider the top ten most outrageous moments from the three Big Momma films. It runs 9 ¾ minutes.

The film’s gag reel runs 2 ¼ minutes.

“Baby, You Know” music video presents Brandon Jackson and Jessica Lucas performing their song from the film in this 3 ½ music vignette.

“Lyrical Miracle” music video presents the complete music video for the song which is only shown in part in the film. It runs 2 ¾ minutes.

The film’s theatrical trailer runs 2 minutes.

The disc is BD-Live ready, but there are no additional bonus featurettes on the website not already on this disc.

There are promo trailers for Dairy of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Gulliver’s Travels, and Cedar Rapids.

The second disc in the set is the DVD copy of the movie.

The third disc in the set is the digital copy of the movie with enclosed instructions for installing on Mac and PC devices.

In Conclusion

2/5 (not an average)

There is truly nothing new in the offing for Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, but fans of Martin Lawrence or the Big Momma franchise wil likely check it out anyway. The Blu-ray does offer a very good picture and sound package along with some bonus features which admirers of the movie will want to explore.

Matt Hough

Charlotte, NC