Smother (2008)

38% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
21% of users liked it
(3,054 ratings)

When an everyday thirtysomething is fired from his job, his unemployment woes are soon compounded as the ticking of his wife's maternal clock reaches a deafening pitch, and his overbearing mother announces plans to move in with the struggling couple. Dax Shepard, Liv Tyler, and Diane Keaton star in… More When an everyday thirtysomething is fired from his job, his unemployment woes are soon compounded as the ticking of his wife's maternal clock reaches a deafening pitch, and his overbearing mother announces plans to move in with the struggling couple. Dax Shepard, Liv Tyler, and Diane Keaton star in a film directed by Vince Di Meglio, co-scripted by Di Meglio and Tim Rasmussen, and produced by Rasmussen, Bill Johnson, and Jay Roach. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Vince Di Meglio
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 31, 2007 Wide
On DVD: May 5, 2009
Studio: Variance Films

Critic Reviews

Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
suffers from a distinct 'been there, done that' feeling to it
Jason McKiernan, Filmcritic.com
doomed from conception
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Not exactly unequivocal accolades for the mom in your life, nor is it Mommie Dearest packing closet hangers. But there's a decided appreciation for the woman who raised you, warts and all, and debriefing of an assortment of lingering childhood grudges.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Not exactly unequivocal accolades for the mom in your life, nor is it Mommie Dearest packing closet hangers. But there's a decided appreciation for the woman who raised you, warts and all, and debriefing of an assortment of lingering childhood grudges.
Tim Grierson, L.A. Weekly
Smother feels like the sort of misbegotten curiosity Comedy Central uses to fill its Sunday afternoon programming.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Perhaps Diane Keaton was poisoned by merciless Asian gangsters with strict instructions to make two career-denting comedies that methodically peel away her integrity before she was allowed the sweet kiss of a life-saving antidote.
Jake Wilson, The Age (Australia)
This film has its share of crass, unlikely jokes, but also allows its characters some psychological complexity.
David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)
Director and co-screenwriter Vince di Meglio handles this thin material without much subtlety.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Filled with crazy situations, this comedy of errors may not work 100% of the time, but there are enough laughs to allow us to delight in its lunacy, and enough home truths about families and mother/son relationships, to be touched.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

I don't understand all the bad reviews of this film. I was laughing out loud throughout. I thought that this movie had many, many chuckle moments, and I'm not all that easy to please when it comes to comedies. Dax Shepard just cracked me up. Diane Keaton was alot on the… More
I don't understand all the bad reviews of this film. I was laughing out loud throughout. I thought that this movie had many, many chuckle moments, and I'm not all that easy to please when it comes to comedies. Dax Shepard just cracked me up. Diane Keaton was alot on the kooky side, but I still enjoyed her. I'm so glad that I watched it in spite of what I'd read about it.
♥˩ƳИИ &

CAST: Dax Shepard, Liv Tyler, Diane Keaton, Mike White, Ken Howard, Selma Stern, Jerry Lambert, Don Lake DIRECTED BY: Vince Di Meglio SUMMARY: After losing his job, therapist Noah Cooper (Dax Shepard) returns home to discover that his loud, pushy mother (Diane Keaton) has left… More
CAST: Dax Shepard, Liv Tyler, Diane Keaton, Mike White, Ken Howard, Selma Stern, Jerry Lambert, Don Lake DIRECTED BY: Vince Di Meglio SUMMARY: After losing his job, therapist Noah Cooper (Dax Shepard) returns home to discover that his loud, pushy mother (Diane Keaton) has left her husband and plans to live indefinitely with Noah and his lovely wife (Liv Tyler) -- who desperately wants him to sire a child. Now, the put-upon therapist has to cope with his outrageously overbearing mom and fend off his wife ? all while trying to find gainful employment. MY THOUGHTS: "Not very funny, but interesting enough to watch. I felt like I have seen Diane Keaton play this role before and then remember that she kinda has, like in, 'Because I said So' and 'Mama's Boy'. So it wasn't that big of a stretch for her to play an overbearing mother who is quite annoying. I thought the karaoke scene was funny, but not much in this film was. It had its moments, very few, but still they were there."
Leigh R

Funny stuff, for sure.
Cassie H

Very bizarre but cute movie. Good.
Mason W

Smother, starring Diane Keaton and Liv Tyler is a good comedy. A young couple trying to start out have to compete with having her brother and his mother reside with them for several weeks....many crazy things ensue...a cute movie to see and I love Diane Keaton.
Nicki M

Good light comedy film with a lot of laughs. Maybe all the people who panned this one have stable mothers. LOL. I could relate to it. Diane Keaton and Liv Tyler are both great in this.
Dean M

Diane Keaton, playing a very similar meddling mother role to the ones she playing in Because, I Said So and Mama's Boy, is terrific as Dax Shepard's well-meaning, but astoundingly annoying, mother. Though a very funny movie, this also… More
Diane Keaton, playing a very similar meddling mother role to the ones she playing in Because, I Said So and Mama's Boy, is terrific as Dax Shepard's well-meaning, but astoundingly annoying, mother. Though a very funny movie, this also wears its heart on its sleeve, and may just bring a few mothers and sons closer together!
Leo L

Here is a funny movie that centralizes on one man?s dilemma when he loses his job, his wife wants to have a baby, and unwanted visitors come to stay in their home. Noah?s entire world is turned upside down, until he decides to do something about it. Filled with tons of laughter! Dax… More
Here is a funny movie that centralizes on one man?s dilemma when he loses his job, his wife wants to have a baby, and unwanted visitors come to stay in their home. Noah?s entire world is turned upside down, until he decides to do something about it. Filled with tons of laughter! Dax Shepard, Liv Tyler, and Diane Keaton stars. Worthy!

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

Diane Keaton
as Marilyn Cooper
Dax Shepard
as Noah Cooper
Liv Tyler
as Clare Cooper

Mike White
as Myron Stubbs
Ken Howard
as Gene Cooper
Selma Stern
as Helen Cooper

See full cast

Smother (2008)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cast

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