THE MOTHER

2023, 115 minutes, Colour.

Jennifer Lopez, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwicke, Joseph Fiennes, Gael Garcia Bernal, Paul Raci, Edie Falco.

Directed by Niki Caro.

Thumbnail review: action show with mother searching for her abducted daughter, fights and shootouts. For audiences who do not like this kind of thing, read no further. For audiences who do, they can check out how The Mother works.

While watching the Mother, audiences might be thinking of Taken (and it several sequels) – an abducted child, a parent determined to find the child, no holds barred. But, instead of Liam Neeson, here is Jennifer Lopez.

Halfway through this film, the narrative seems to come to a conclusion. But, there is more, almost like the sequel being within the first film.

The Mother begins with Jennifer Lopez, who never has her own personal name, is always The Mother, being interrogated by the FBI, a sudden explosive intrusion, deaths all round, the villain escaping an exploding fire, the sympathetic FBI agent, William (Omari Hardwick) surviving – and the villain having stabbed at the pregnant Mother who then gives birth. For everyone’s safety, the baby is adopted out. And The Mother hides out in the snowclad wilds of Alaska.

Then 12 years pass. And, the film goes into desperate action, William letting the mother know what is happening, the abduction of the child to Havana, William and the Mother in pursuit, desperate car chases (smashing every obstacle in the way, the Mother too responsibly callous in her pursuit), desperate chases on foot, shootouts, and Jennifer Lopez is right in the middle of it all (which could make Liam Neeson and other action stars somewhat envious!). And, in the no holds barred scenario, men and women do battle, fight one-to-one, as equals.

Once the danger is settled, the daughter continues to be in danger from the villains (who are portrayed by Joseph Fiennes and Gael Garcia Bernal). So, moving somewhat into Jack London territory, White Fang territory, The Mother trains her 12-year-old daughter in survival techniques as well as military action, setting up the sequel within the main feature, quite an attack by white clad snow bike riders, desperation for The Mother, the daughter rising to the occasion.

The film is been directed by New Zealand’s Niki Caro who rose to prominence with The Whale Rider, moved to the United States and has made a number of successful films including North Country, The Zookeeper’s Wife. This film is also a star vehicle for Jennifer Lopez, entering the action hero stakes. (It is alarming to read so many of the comments on the IMDb hostile to Jennifer Lopez, criticising her for having a vanity project, wanting to point out how many inadequacies, highly personalised and offensive trolling. Critics were more positive and the public liked the film)

Once again, for audiences of this kind of action show, worth a watch.

1. The popularity of this kind of action show? Abductions in search? Confrontations, violence? But with a female lead?
2. The structure of the film, two films in one, the first half introducing The Mother, her situation, her daughter, the adoption, her 12 years hidden in Alaska, going into action, the abduction search, resolution, then a second half, like a sequel, training her daughter in the wilds of Alaska to build up to the final confrontation? Dramatically effective?
3. The Mother, Jennifer Lopez in the role, convincing as an action hero? The initial interrogation by the FBI, her determination, military background and record, skills, sniper, the background of the men in the arms deals, her discovery of the children in the van, her going to the authorities? The safe house, the attack, the FBI agents, Adrian and his viciousness, stabbing the pregnant Mother, her setting the flames, the explosion? Her surviving, giving birth, William and his injuries, hospital, Adrian escaping with burns to his face?
4. The birth, the Mother wanting the child, the agency speaking straight about the situation, the adoption? William and his promises?
5. The Mother, travel to Alaska, her contact in the store, comrades in the past, the hut, her isolation, in the wilds? 12 years?
6. William contacting her, her travel to Cincinnati, seeing Zoe, her parents, with her rifle, the message concerning the abduction, the two vans, her shooting, the deaths, the van getting away with Zoe, William and the Mother going to Havana, tracking down the abductor, the foot chase, the car chase, knocking everything out of the way, the interrogation of the abductor?
7. William, continually helping, gratitude for her saving his life? His reaction to her interrogation techniques and torture? Going to the mansion, killing all the guards, finding Hector, the flashbacks to the taking of the children, exploiting them, her killing him, the house on fire?
8. The rescue of Zoe, her fears, loving William, the return to the US, the diner, Zoe asking whether the Mother was her mother, the Mother’s reticence? Almost at Cincinnati? The pursuit, the crashes, Adrian and his confrontation, William’s death? The Mother suspicious, on the motorbike, rescuing Zoe?
9. The second part of the film, Alaska, Zoe’s reluctance, animosity towards her mother, the guns at her training, the shooting of the deer, Zoe refusing to eat the meat of deer and rabbits, the encounter with the wolf and the cubs, her hand being bitten, the doctor, the information going on to the computer, making it available for the pursuers?
10. Jons, fighting the past with the Mother, the store, his helping her, his talking with Zoe? Zoe reading her mother’s letter and explanation?
11. Being in ready for the attack, Zoe and her survival skills, shooting? With her mother on the tower? Adrian and the villains, the white uniforms, the snow bikes? The action, sniping, picking off the attackers, the buildup to the confrontation with Adrian, the Mother fighting him hand-to-hand, unconscious, his taking Zoe, the Mother shooting, the car crushing, Zoe coming to rescue her mother?
12. Comparisons with male action heroes, the relationship with her abducted children, the emphasis on motherliness, distance, bonding?