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Parents' Guide to

Big Momma's House

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Martin Lawrence comedy with sex, violence, and nudity.

Movie PG-13 2000 99 minutes
Big Momma's House Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Movieman456
Movieman456 Parent of 10-year-old
March 7, 2020
age 9+
So funny
Devesh G.
Devesh G. Adult
July 17, 2019
age 10+
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE, FBI agents Malcolm (Martin Lawrence) and John (Paul Giamatti) are trying to track down escaped prisoner Lester (Terrence Howard). They set up a stakeout across the street from the home of Big Momma, the grandmother of Lester's former girlfriend Sherry (Nia Long). Sherry arrives just as Big Momma leaves town, so Malcolm, a master of disguise, puts on a fat suit and a flowered house dress and is there to greet Sherry and her son, Trent, with open arms.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (13 ):

The film premise is promising, but instead of a script, we get a series of situations, strung together in a lackluster story that underuses its three talented stars. Big Momma has to deliver a baby! Big Momma kicks butt at karate and basketball! Sherry gets scared and crawls into bed with Big Momma! Oh, and by the way, Malcolm has to struggle with his feelings for Sherry because he thinks she was Lester's accomplice and besides, he starts off the movie explaining that a wife and family are just a distraction for a lawman.

Co-producer Lawrence is marvelous at times, using his eyes and body to hilarious effect, and showing a potential for tenderness and heart so enticing that we wish for more. Nia Long has sweetness, toughness, and humor, and it's always a pleasure to see talented character actor Paul Giamatti. But the script is very weak, relying heavily on bathroom humor, jokes about sexy old people, and Momma's highly ungrandmotherly feelings for Sherry. Inconsistencies of plot and character keep the audience from connecting to the material.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about stories centered on characters dressed in disguise. Stories like these are as old as Shakespeare. How does this movie mine comedy out of having a male FBI agent in disguise as the grandmother of an attractive woman?

  • How did the movie use exaggeration for humorous effect? Was the exaggeration ever too much?

  • How did the movie use sexual situations and slapstick violence for the sake of comedy?

Movie Details

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