| Actors:
| Albert Brooks, Debbie Reynolds, Kimiko Gelman, Isabel Glasser, James Gleason (II) | | Format:
| Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC | | Language:
| English, French | | Subtitle:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Paramount | | Run Time:
| 104 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| February 13, 2001 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 64 reviews |
|
Average Customer Review:
 ( 64 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 found the following review helpful:
 It's the little things...Jun 27, 2000
This is absolutely my favorite movie of the 1990's. In my opinion, there are few things as precious as a good, smart comedy, and this is one of the best. I first saw this movie in the theater with my mom, and I laughed so hard I missed huge chunks of it, so of course I had to rent it and watch it again and again. It never gets old. Reynolds really hits her mark with her subtle glances, sighs, and sub-breath comments. While some people may be annoyed by what they see as "bickering" in this movie, I find hilarious, because it's the little things that make us laugh. It's the shared experiences that you don't realize are so funny until they're up on the screen in front of you. Jerry Seinfeld and George Carlin are two comedians who have made careers pointing out those little things in life that are funnier than you first realize. Albert Brooks does that same thing in this movie. The movie has a bit of a slow start, but once it's going you'll be rolling on the floor with laughter. Let's have the DVD already!
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 Universal ProblemsMay 03, 2001
By lasher
When you first watch this movie, you aren't quite sure what you are going to get. As it slowly reveals itself you find it as funny as it is discomforting. I think Albert Brooks did a wonderful job with this film. Portraying all the odd little things that happen in our relationships with our respective mothers. We all have those moments where we look at her and can't believe that we were spawned from her loins. The ways that at any age, she can reduce us to about 9 years old and completely humiliate and embarrass the hell out us at a moments notice. Debbie Reynolds is magnificent as the mother, she has that maniacal sense of motherly perfection that all of our mother's, at the very least, attempt to portray. Rob Morrow is also hilarious as the jealous younger brother. Every scene between him and Brooks is a laugh riot, because they both seem to regress to their younger days when they would fight over toys and the remote control. All in all, I think this film is something everyone can relate to on some level. We have all had one or two of these wretchedly embarrassing moments with our mothers, and it is more than likely that they will happen again.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Mother and Child ReunionFeb 13, 2004
By Gregor von Kallahann
You would think any movie entitled MOTHER would either have to be the ultimate schmaltzfest or the penultimate psychodrama. Surprise! Albert Brooks film is neither. In fact, Brooks' specialty seems to be taking potentially weighty themes and making smart, but still lighter-than-air films on them. What DEFENDING YOUR LIFE did for the afterlife, MOTHER does for family relations. And that's a good thing. Brooks has a deft, understated comic flair. You chuckle more often than you laugh out loud. Contrary to what others have posted below, Debbie Reynolds "Mother" character is not a black and white character at all. She's as conflicted and complicated--and as it turns out, just as smart--as her neurotic son(s). That's the beauty part. Brooks allows all his characters their humanity. He doesn't oversimplify things (frustrated son vs. castrating mother). Mother had her own issues--dating back to her own childhood and adolescence. Brooks' writer character John finally makes that realization and, in a very real sense, it proves liberating for him. But that almost makes MOTHER sound like more of a "message movie" than it ever was intended to be. In the end, MOTHER makes a gentle plea for self-realization for all. But that message just kind of sneaks up on you. What makes Albert Brooks kind of refreshing is that he doesn't have to lay it on with a trowel.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Smartly Hilarious!Aug 20, 2006
By Sunday Kazas
I have always been a fan of Albert Brooks. He is a subtle genius with perfectly-timed sarcasm.
This film isn't fast-paced, obvious, or sexy: It is thoroughly entertaining, witty, and universal. Brooks uses dialogue (remember when actors spoke to act?) to ferry his observations.
I love the perspective of a middle-aged writer who conceptualizes "The Experiment" during his introspective, post-divorce period. His tenacity and vulnerablity portray the nature of a writer perfectly.
Debbie Reynolds is lovely and enjoyable and funny! She is, as always, elegantly sweet and "in" character.
You may miss a few lines while laughing--you'll enjoy the second viewing all-the-more.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Albert Brooks is a real Genius.Feb 17, 2000
By gene blue
And Debbie Reynolds is also brilliant. This movie had my friends and I laughing so hard it almost hurt. This isn't the first Brooks film to do so. If you haven't seen Lost in America you are missing a real classic. His humor is sort of exclusive, I mean some people don't seem to "get it". But the amount of laughs is almost continuous.
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