Jennifer Lopez channels her inner action star with the release of The Mother, in which she plays an ex-assassin who springs into action to protect the daughter she left behind. I know what you’re thinking – “that sounds vaguely like Taken (2008)” – but I promise it’s far from it.
To put it simply, this is a generic and straightforward action flick that’s elevated greatly by Jennifer Lopez’s presence. Without Jennifer as the protagonist, this probably disappears amid the mass of very ordinary action films on Netflix. She brings a certain authenticity to the lead role that results in a pleasantly enjoyable ride. Motherhood is a core theme of the narrative (no shit), and it’s clear Jennifer taps in to her own experiences as a mother to sell us on the decisions the character makes. There’s a number of scenes where she doesn’t really say much, but it’s clear exactly what she’s thinking and feeling from something as subtle as her eye movements and facial expressions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not selling this as Oscar-worthy, but the way Jennifer uses her personal life to fuel a convincing, kick-ass performance makes the film as entertaining as it is.
Not only does she sell the motherhood angle, she’s also very believable in an action role. She’s done action-adjacent things in the past, like Out of Sight (1998), but not much on this sort of level. At this point, Jennifer Lopez can do it all no questions asked. The charm she emits in this leading role makes it really easy to root for her character, and in turn give a shit about the story. Speaking of the story, it’s quite solid. It fluctuates in pace, dipping into a few slower sequences that through the second act, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless. It also definitely falls into many genre clichés, making the bulk of the story quite predictable, but I wouldn’t say it hurts the film that much. It plays it safe, but it does everything well enough, so there’s no complaints here.
The downside to playing it very safe, both in terms of the story and action, is that it’s all very forgettable. Despite being an enjoyable watch, it lacks impact and thus doesn’t stick in your mind long after watching. The action sequences are fine, and Jennifer Lopez does a great job in them, but aside from the climactic showdown the rest just blends into one vague collection of action. It’s disappointing, but for the type of film this is – a run-of-the-mill Netflix action movie – it works.
Aside from Jennifer, there’s some solid talent in the supporting roles and a couple of performances that bring some heart to the story. Both Lucy Paez (Zoe) and Omari Hardwick (Cruise) are very enjoyable to watch, both when interacting with each other or acting alongside Jennifer. So many of the more heartfelt moments are delivered in scenes containing these two, and they deliver where it counts. I want to highlight Lucy specifically, as this is her first mainstream American acting role and she’s impressively great. It genuinely felt like watching a young star working her magic, effortlessly hitting every emotional beat in a convincing manner.
In the end, The Mother isn’t an exceptional action film and it’s certainly not without its issues, but it’s a very entertaining watch for what it is. Having Jennifer Lopez in the lead role is what makes it enjoyable – she commits 110% to the role and sells both the action and emotion really well. It hits all the action genre clichés and a lot of what’s going on is forgettable, but the motherhood themes and Jennifer’s performance are strong enough to make this a worthwhile weekend watch.
6.4/10
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