Film Review: THE MOTHER (2023): Jennifer Lopez is Superb in an Action-Packed but Sometimes Implausible Drama

The Mother Review

The Mother (2023) Film Review, a movie directed by Niki Caro, written by Misha Green, Andrea Berloff and Peter Craig and starring Jennifer Lopez, Lucy Paez, Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael Garcia Bernal, Paul Raci, Jesse Garcia, Yvonne Senat Jones, Edie Falco, Michael Karl Richards, Link Baker, Mayumi Yoshida, Ryan Cowie, Todd Matthews, Olivia Lucas, Mehdi Regragui and Jay Cardinal Villeneuve.

Jennifer Lopez is a remarkable talent and her latest film, The Mother, is a testament to her versatility as an actress. While the movie throws in everything but the kitchen sink to try to be the definitive action picture, the film works just as well in its quiet moments between the mother of the film’s title and her young daughter. Lopez keeps her performance here relatable even though her character is a skilled assassin. Lopez plays her as hard edged and worn down by the violent events that have transpired in her life, but she has a heart and would do anything to protect the child that was attempted to be taken from her during pregnancy.

Directed by Niki Caro, the film revolves around an assassin known as “The Mother” (Lopez) who goes to work for the FBI as the opening scenes of the picture take flight. The Mother is pregnant and gets stabbed in her stomach as the premise of the film kicks into gear. Her baby is successfully born, however, and The Mother must protect her girl, Zoe (Lucy Paez) years later after Zoe has been adopted and has already accepted a new woman as her loving mother. Lopez’s character is her real mom, though, and will fight to protect her against all odds. However, can Zoe learn to accept Lopez’s character in her life?

There are two key heavies in the picture: Adrian (the always terrific Joseph Fiennes) and Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal). Both of the central villains here are played with ferocious intensity that will make you root for Lopez’s character to stand up to them and save the day. That won’t be so easy, though. Adrian is the type of villain that is the best kind because you absolutely despise him. Fiennes plays this character (who has a bum eye) as completely unlikable and heartless which makes the audience want to see him get his just desserts by the film’s end.

Omari Hardwick plays Cruise who is the closest thing in the film to a love interest for Lopez. Cruise is an agent who helps The Mother protect her daughter after an attempt on her life outside a school which leads to Zoe’s kidnapping. Hardwick is well cast in his role and makes a very good heroic companion for The Mother to try to accomplish her goals to save Zoe from the harm that awaits her.

A lot of the latter scenes in this globe trotting thriller are set in the snowy wilderness where wild animals may look cute but prove vicious such as when Zoe gets bit and has to go to a doctor which is when the movie starts to lose a bit of credibility. The Mother has brought Zoe to the wilderness to escape being discovered by Adrian but Zoe doesn’t realize giving her real name to the doctor isn’t the best way to keep a low profile. The Mother wants to keep Zoe safe and teaches her to be tough, to drive and to shoot. What better way for a mom and daughter to bond than by having some target practice?

As Adrian sends a crew of white suited villains into the snow to hunt down Zoe, enjoyment of this movie will depend on suspension of disbelief but it’s an enjoyable action picture nevertheless. Lopez and Fiennes match off with great results with Fiennes proving to be a formidable villain. Lopez also excels in her scenes with Paez who transforms before our eyes from timid to strong and determined.

What makes The Mother work is the tension it builds in the nail-biting early scenes of the picture which sets the stage for the more sentimental aspects of it that arise later in the film. Lopez is also a true movie star. She’s done a remarkably different series of films lately from Marry Me to Shotgun Wedding to The Mother. It is possible The Mother is the best of these three movies. It doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. It’s a movie about a mother and daughter learning to accept each other in their lives and defending themselves from the evil that exists in the world which is embodied in the character of Adrian.

The concluding scenes of The Mother will have audiences rooting for Lopez and Paez’s characters as they change throughout the film and become three-dimensional people who form a genuine bond. Director Niki Caro keeps the movie flowing well with breakneck pacing and an unpredictable series of events that are only hampered by the fact that Adrian becomes a talking villain who gives our heroic mother just enough time to form a plan of action that will ultimately prove mother knows best.

The Mother is a tense, action-packed movie with Jennifer Lopez at the top of her game. While it’s got some flaws, the picture does what it sets out to do which is entertain and move its audience– therefore it is recommended.

Rating: 7/10

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