ARTS&ENTERTAINMENTKick Back and Enjoy aBy Todd McFliker‘Mother’s Day’ FilmMother’s Day is unique for honoring the special ladies in our lives. So mom, now that you’ve had your brunch, received your flowers, andopened the adorable cards from your kids, it’s time for you to kick back and escape into some cinematic Mother’s Day entertainment.<strong>The</strong>re are some films that explain the beautiful connection that a mom and a child share with each other, while others show just howfrightening some mothers can be. Even though moms come in all shapes and sizes, they all have one thing in common: a passionatedevotion to their kids. Take a look at some of the most special relationships celebrated in the <strong>Parklander</strong>’s comedic Mother’s Day DVDs.A movie that’ll have you smiling from start to finish is John Hughes’enduring PG film from 1983, “Mr. Mom.” Before he was Bruce Wayne,Michael Keaton was the manly mom around the house caring for threeadorable children. When he gets laid off as a car manufacturer inMotown, his wife returns to work. <strong>The</strong> adventures begin with droppingoff the kids at school, trekking through a grocery store, giving baths anddrying the baby’s bum in a public restroom. At one point, the washingmachine explodes, the evil vacuum named “Jaws” takes off, the kids set offthe smoke alarm, and the baby eats their concoction of gaseous chili.Topped with fantastic one-liners, Keaton begins acting like a mother bywatching soap operas, and playing poker for coupons with the ladies.Eventually the Super Dad finds his motherly instinct.With no connection to Mr. Mom’s Michael, DianeKeaton is the “Tiger Lady,” a high-powered managementconsultant in “Baby Boom.” In the adorable PG selectionfrom 1987, she’s a workaholic in New York City whoinherits a baby girl from an overseas cousin she hasn’tseen in decades. It’s a hoot watching the business tycooncarrying the child like a football, and popping Valium justto take the kid’s temperature. Mrs. Corleone can run aFortune 500 company but can’t change a diaper. Keaton’sstressful life is left behind when the two relocate toVermont. Away from the Big Apple, Keaton concentrateson being a mother. <strong>The</strong> big city’s rat race has tosurvive with one less rodent.<strong>The</strong> same year, Danny DeVito directed and stars in thePG-13 dark comedy “Throw Mamma from the Train.”His childish character is ready to kill his abusive mother.Meanwhile, DeVito’s writing professor, Billy Crystal,wouldn’t mind getting rid of his ex-wife for stealing hisbest-selling novel. A Hitchcock-like scheme, with thetwo characters swapping murders, is worked out. Butwill their alibi stick? “<strong>The</strong> Goonies’” Anne Ramsey issuperb as DeVito’s verbally abusive mother. As theprofessor explains, “She’s not a woman. She’s theTerminator.”In 1992’s PG-13 comedy, “Stop! Or My Mom WillShoot,” Sylvester Stallone is a detective that gets bossed around by hisintrusive mother, Estelle Getty. Visiting L.A. from Newark, the GoldenGirl instantly gets on her boy’s nerves by cleaning his gun with Clorox,befriending criminals with lentil soup, and interfering with his love life.But after witnessing a drive-by murder, the delightful Getty threatens badguys with spankings, and eventually saves the day.1994’s R-rated “Serial Mom” is a ridiculous satire.Kathleen Turner is a suburban mom who quicklybecomes known as “Baltimore’s first serial killer.” Ifyou’re ready to suspend reality for goofy humor, theflick is pretty funny. Whether she’s prank calling aneighbor, or assaulting her son’s math teacher with astation wagon, this isn’t Beaver Cleaver’s mother. AsSuzanne Summers explains in her cameo, the serialkiller is merely “a normal housewife trapped in a nightmareof circumstantial evidence.”Jumping ahead to 2008, the PG-13 “Baby Mama” issimply hysterical. Tina Fey is a successful executivewho choses her career over a family. While otherwomen got pregnant, she got promotions. Now she’s37, single, and her biological clock is ticking. Onlyshe’s infertile. As a result, Amy Poehler is hired as asurrogate for $100,000. <strong>The</strong> hilarious relationshipbetween the two ladies is priceless. <strong>The</strong>re are brilliantappearances by Sigourney Weaver, a self-absorbedSteve Martin, and “Weeds’” Romany Malco explaining“You pay the bills, she has the baby. That’s called aBaby Mama.”In the same year’s PG-13 cute romance “My Mom’sNew Boyfriend,” Tom’s son, Colin Hanks, portrays anuptight federal agent. His mother, Meg Ryan, begins todate a suspected art thief, Antonio Banderas. <strong>The</strong> PG-13 “Motherhood” is 2009’s disappointing story of a lady,Uma Thurman, trying desperately to throw her 6-yearolddaughter an incredible birthday party, while bloggingabout parenthood, and keeping up appearances atthe playground. It’s no “Pulp Fiction.”<strong>The</strong>re are certainly a number of picks from the dramaticside of motherly DVDs. First off, spectators learn of a wicked and abusiveJoan Crawford in 1981’s PG “Mommie Dearest.” Just don’t give FayeDunaway’s memorable character a wire hanger.1983’s PG “Terms of Endearment” stars Shirley MacLaine and DebraWinger battling through various relationships, as well as a terminalillness. Best Supporting Actor winner, Jack Nicholson, is simplymagnificent as a retired astronaut.“Steel Magnolias” is a PG flick from 1989 starring the queens of thebusiness, MacLaine, along with Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Olympia68 MAY 2010
Dukakis, Daryl Hannah and Julia Roberts. <strong>The</strong> closely tied womeninteract in a Louisiana beauty salon. Roberts returns to tear-jerkers in1998’s PG-13 story of family, divorce and terminal illness, Stepmom.<strong>The</strong> peaceful French village depicted in 2000’s PG-13 “Chocolat” starsJuliette Binoche as a skeptical single mother. In no time, leading manJohnny Depp learns to savor the woman’s sweetness.Spectators can also catch the not-rated “Mother’s Day” from 1980. Nowconsidered a B-movie classic, it’s the story of three girls rememberingtheir college years at a vacation in the woods where they are hunted by adysfunctional hillbilly family. And released earlier this spring, the remakeof “Mother’s Day” stars “Risky Business’” Rebecca De Mornay as thefilm’s psychotic mother.As seen in Hollywood classics based on motherhood, life is not all roses.But there are some sweet and hysterical moments that will stand anytest of time. A sweet movie can create wonders if it is based onunconditional maternal love. So, enjoy this Mother’s Day watchingexceptional films with your darling mom. As my own madre likes toinform me, “You only have one mother, so you better be nice.”the PARKLANDER69
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