Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) is an FBI agent who takes his work a little too seriously. He will dress in any disguise, no matter how ridiculous or embarassing to catch a culprit. His latest assignment involves both he and his partner, John (Paul Giamatti), going down south to stake out the home of massive elderly woman Big Momma (Ella Mitchell). They're trying to catch Big Momma's grand-daughter, Sherry (Nia Long), who they think was involved in a bank robbery several years ago. Sherry worked at a bank which her boyfriend robbed, and the money was never recovered. Unfortunately Big Momma has been called away to see a sick friend, and she won't be home when Sherry arrives. Seeing his chance to catch Sherry slipping away, Malcolm decides to try his most embarassing disguise yet, playing Big Momma. This involves him dealing with such tasks as acting as the neighborhood midwife; dealing with a sadistic karate instructor (Anthony Anderson); trying to live up to the expectations of Sherry's son, Trent (Jascha Washington); and fending off the very unwelcome advances of an admiring suitor (Carl Wright).
I often hear Martin Lawrence called a poor man's Eddie Murphy. I've never agreed with this because the two actors have very different acting styles. Murphy is a bit more quiet and a lot more vulgar. Lawrence is often hilariously over the top, and he is great at playing a fish out of water type character; but he's obviously not as good an actor as Murphy. What Lawrence lacks in serious acting talent he usually makes up for in energy ("Blue Streak", "Nothing to Lose") or originality ("Life"). Such is not the case with his latest outing, "Big Momma's House", which destroys the validity of my arguments for Lawrence having a style of his own. This movie is nothing more than a blatant rip off of Murphy's similar role in "The Nutty Professor". However, all the pent up energy that usually makes Lawrence so entertaining is strangely absent. Instead, we get Lawrence looking very bored under a ton of makeup, using a scratchy, high-pitched voice that somehow sounds worse than fingernails on a chalk board. The saddest part of all this is that despite the tons of makeup they have piled on poor Martin, I could never believe he was an elderly, overweight woman.
In a movie where the star appears bored with the proceedings, it's left to the supporting cast to hold the show up. Thankfully the supporting actors in "Big Momma's House" do a fairly good job. Nia Long ("Held Up"), in particular, does an admirable job as the only straight character in a movie filled with bizarre types. Paul Giammati ("The Negotiator"), who usually plays a little weenie of a character, actually plays a fairly competent one here; even more shocking is that he does it pretty well. The most entertaining character would have to be Anthony Anderson's ("Romeo Must Die") hilariously incompetent security guard. Anderson was one of the best things about Jet Li's "Romeo Must Die", and if he keeps playing his characters like he does here, he'll have quite a comic future ahead of him. The funniest scene with Anderson involves his teaching a karate class to a group of old ladies and being taught a thing or two himself by Malcolm, as Big Momma. Unfortunately, comical scenes like this one are few and far between. The funniest scenes are Nia's initial meeting with Malcolm as Big Momma, Malcolm trying to help deliver a baby, and one where Nia goes to sleep in Big Momma's bed.
One of the worst things about "Big Momma's House" is its use of gross-out jokes. There is one scene (and you'll know it when you get there) that almost had me running out of the theater, ready to lose my lunch. Of course, I've never been a big fan of gross out gags like some people are. If you find the sight of something utterly repugnant to be amusing for some reason, maybe you'll enjoy the film for that reason. Another major fault with Darryl Quarles' script is that several things are never explained. For example, when Nia first shows up at her grandmother's house, she's convinced that Big Momma is going to be angry at her and they haven't spoken in some time, but we never find out why. Nia also carries around a cross which seems to hold some signifigance to both her and her grandmother, but this significance is never explained. The romantic subplot between Malcolm (when he's out of his Big Momma garb) and Nia feels about as rushed and tacked on as is humanly possible. Last, we have the grating soundtrack. If you don't know what kind of music is in a Martin Lawrence movie, you've been living in a cave for the past couple of years. I'm not sure if I'd recommend this movie to Martin Lawrence fans, because they might lose what little respect they have for him after seeing it (I know I did). "Big Momma's House" runs a decent 98 minutes, though most of this run time is pointless fluff. I give it three out of five stars.
When a street-smart FBI agent is sent to Georgia to protect a beautiful single mother and her son from an escaped convict, he is forced to impersonate a crass Southern granny known as Big Momma in order to remain incognito.
A great comedy with Martin Lawerence. I know that it's a little cheesy but it's Martin Lawerence. The guy is funny as himself, as a woman, and even funnier as a huge old lady.
PAN AND SCAN. Hecha en llenablancos. La Big Momma real es más graciosa que la de mentira. / By-the-numbers. The real Big Momma is funnier than the fake one.
wow this was a very funny movie...this was predictable 2 watch but yet at the same time its was really funny 2 watch throughout...martin lawrence was great as "Big Momma" in this movie..ive not seen the 2nd 1 yet but i think this was a really funny movie 2 watch..this is a good cast of actors/actressess throughout the movie...this is really funny movie
A good film, but extremely predictable - as in the fact that the hero is gonna save the day and everything is gonna turn out fine, he finally gets the girl and all is right with the world.
A silly movie about Martin Lawrence going undercover as a big fat woman. Saw this quite a while ago, but vaguely remember some good bits. Martin is always very funny.
It seemed to be a rash of guys dressing up as women when this movie came out. BUT Martin does a great job and keeps the light heartedness of the movie with it's serious undertones going. Worth the watch.
Silly but funny comedy. Martin Lawrence does an alright job and most of the scenes you can't help but laugh. It really is stupid and he doesn't look anything like the person he is meant to be so all the way through it, even though you're wetting yourself laughing in the back of your head your always going why, if these people are meant to know her, why don't they realise the differences that you picked up on in five seconds. Once you get past that though it's a fun watch. Especially the scene in the toilet. That really was funny. Martin Lawrence's face was just classic. Perhaps a film worth seeing once.
This was a totally funny movie and this comedy has heart. Funny part is when the old lady with her dog thought that big momma and the white guy were lovin' but were actually preparing for the disguise. Paul Giamatti and Terrence Howard should openly admit that this movie was the launching pad for both their careers.
One of my favorite comedies ever! I don't know why I love Martin Lawrence movies so much. Anyway, this comedy has heart and it's actually funny. Paul Giamatti and Terrence Howard should openly admit that this movie was the launching pad for both their careers. Favorite line: You been sucking on that yak?
Martin Lawrence looks so funny in his disguise as a 300-pound grandmother Big Momma while delivers a baby, takes karate lessons and plays basketball, but is dull and lame for the most part.
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