Let's get something straight. I don't hate Martin Lawrence. I think he's very talented. I just think the projects he chooses suck worse than an amateur stand-up comic. The difference between Martin and an amateur stand-up comic is that if you give an amateur stand-up comic a movie deal, he/she will try to make it the funniest movie showcasing their talents as a comic.
Martin goes where the money tells him to. Wave a $20 million paycheck and chances are he's going to go towards a Big Mommas House sequel. Marty Marr coasts.
A third Big Momma is in production now thanks to the good folks at 20th (or is it 21st) Century Fox, spearheaded by none other than Tom Rothman who ruined the X-Men, Alien, and Predator franchises. But Big Momma's is just beyond comprehension.
BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE (2000)
Let's go back to the year 2000 when we were supposed to be hit by the Y2k bug. That came six months later in the form of a movie, and that movie was Big Momma's House. A movie that ripped off:
FBI agent Malcolm Turner is going deep undercover as he disguise himself as Sherry Pierce's long-lost grandmother named Hattie Mae Pierce, aka Big Momma. And his latest assignment sends him to small-town Cartersville Georgia, where he is assigned to trap a brutal bank robber who they suspect will be coming down to visit his ex-girlfriend and her son, Trent. Now, Malcolm must somehow find a way to nab his criminal and the lady.
Sounds like a perfect vehicle for Marty Mar to show his comic chops. The film also featured Academy Award nominees Terrence Howard and pre-Sideways star Paul Giamatti (hey, everyone's gotta pay their bills) who until then was stuck in B-movie hell (Dr Dolittle, Big Fat Liar).
The movie went into production January 2000 (yes, six months prior to its release date, a formula that Fox has upheld even 10 years later) and finished probably a week before its June 2, 2000 release date.
The movie went up against Mission: Impossible 2 and landed in 2nd place with $25.6 million dollars in its opening weekend, Martin's biggest opening at the time. Who knew all it took was a fat suit to nab him a hit and ascending paychecks?
Ella Mitchell as the real "Big Momma" with Paul Giamatti
So I guess we're just going to buy into the fact that Martin looks like Ella Mitchell in drag so we can enjoy the rest of the movie. So we're paying our $12 bucks to think like a retard for 90 minutes. Ok. Everyone's gotta play the sucker at least once in life.
Martin Lawrence as Malcom Turner as the fake "Big Momma"
Does the movie work? Not really. We're
supposed to suspend our disbelief in gut-
busting scenes like this one where Sherry jumps in bed with Malcolm (who she thinks is Big Momma) for comfort. Malcolm does not have his Big Momma's mask on. Sherry does not turn 180 degrees to see that it is NOT Big Momma. Because then the movie would be over.
$110 Million dollars later...
Let's go back to the year 2000 when we were supposed to be hit by the Y2k bug. That came six months later in the form of a movie, and that movie was Big Momma's House. A movie that ripped off:- Tootsie (Dustin Hoffman)
- Stakeout (Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez)
- The Nutty Professor (Eddie Murphy)
FBI agent Malcolm Turner is going deep undercover as he disguise himself as Sherry Pierce's long-lost grandmother named Hattie Mae Pierce, aka Big Momma. And his latest assignment sends him to small-town Cartersville Georgia, where he is assigned to trap a brutal bank robber who they suspect will be coming down to visit his ex-girlfriend and her son, Trent. Now, Malcolm must somehow find a way to nab his criminal and the lady.
Sounds like a perfect vehicle for Marty Mar to show his comic chops. The film also featured Academy Award nominees Terrence Howard and pre-Sideways star Paul Giamatti (hey, everyone's gotta pay their bills) who until then was stuck in B-movie hell (Dr Dolittle, Big Fat Liar).
The movie went into production January 2000 (yes, six months prior to its release date, a formula that Fox has upheld even 10 years later) and finished probably a week before its June 2, 2000 release date.
The movie went up against Mission: Impossible 2 and landed in 2nd place with $25.6 million dollars in its opening weekend, Martin's biggest opening at the time. Who knew all it took was a fat suit to nab him a hit and ascending paychecks?
In the movie, Martin went undercover as Hattie Mae Pierce (Ella Mitchell), an actual person in the story to get closer to her great granddaughter, Sherry Pierce (Nia Long) who is the target of criminal Lester Vesco (Terrence Howard). Since it's an actual person, we're supposed to believe that the FBI has a state-of-the-art makeup department to duplicate anyone (watch out!).
Ella Mitchell as the real "Big Momma" with Paul GiamattiSo I guess we're just going to buy into the fact that Martin looks like Ella Mitchell in drag so we can enjoy the rest of the movie. So we're paying our $12 bucks to think like a retard for 90 minutes. Ok. Everyone's gotta play the sucker at least once in life.
Martin Lawrence as Malcom Turner as the fake "Big Momma" Does the movie work? Not really. We're
supposed to suspend our disbelief in gut-
busting scenes like this one where Sherry jumps in bed with Malcolm (who she thinks is Big Momma) for comfort. Malcolm does not have his Big Momma's mask on. Sherry does not turn 180 degrees to see that it is NOT Big Momma. Because then the movie would be over.
Eventually in the end during a hilariously coordinated double dutch door comedy setpiece at a party in Big Momma's House, Big Momma returns home and outs Malcolm who nabs Lester. Malcolm testifies at Sherry's church and he gets the girl. The END.
$110 Million dollars later...
