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Parents' Guide to

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Gimmicky comedy is an unoriginal drag for young teens.

Movie PG-13 2011 107 minutes
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Garry W.
Garry W. Adult
April 16, 2018
age 16+

How could David Lynch make such a bad film?

The acting isn't good, but that's a given - a style trademark of Lynch. It doesn't really feature any of his directional trademarks, though? It's just a straightforward, one-note, gross-out comedy with nothing to say for itself. Is it a satire on this kind of movie? I don't understand how you can go from Mulholland Drive to this in such a short time.

This title has:

Too much sex
joshua martinez
joshua martinez Adult
July 19, 2011
age 13+

13 and up.

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son is an average movie good for young teens and parents you need to know that Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son has some mild violence some sexual humor and some mild language the role model is that Malcolm is a good role model, for once, to his stepson Trent He genuinely wants what's best for Trent and wants him to go to college instead of trying to become a rapper As Big Momma, he also convinces the girls to get rid of boyfriends who don't treat them well, to tell the truth, and to not starve themselves.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) is having a good day -- his stepson Trent (Brandon T. Jackson) receives an acceptance letter to Duke University, and Canetti (Max Casella), his informant on an important case, is about to wear a wire at a meeting with a crime lord. But things take a wrong turn when Trent shows up at the scene and witnesses Russian mob boss Chirkoff (Tony Curran) kill Canetti. Turner decides to disguise himself once more as Big Momma -- with Trent as his grand-niece, Charmaine -- in order to attend an all-girls school for the performing arts, where Canetti stashed a flash drive containing incriminating evidence against Chirkoff. While undercover, Trent falls for Haley (Jessica Lucas), a beautiful aspiring singer, and Big Momma charms the supersized-woman-loving school security guard (Faizon Love), who may know where the flash drive is hidden.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (19 ):

There are fewer crude jokes in this threequel, which is obviously aimed at young teens, than there were in Big Momma's House 2; that's the good news. Plus, there are a couple of Glee-meets-Fame moments in which Jackson and the girls break into spontaneous song (and dance). But aside from a silly little scene in which Jackson and Lawrence do a little dance routine to a Temptations song, even the performances fall flat. This is a most unnecessary movie.

It's disappointing, because Jackson -- who's made a living playing the comic-relief in Tropic Thunder, Percy Jackson, The Lottery Ticket, and more -- is a pretty talented young actor, but he needs to show he can do something clever, not this lowbrow comedy. He should be trying to stretch himself, like Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, or even Marlon Wayans (in Requiem for a Dream) did earlier in their careers. Cross-dressing is a tried and true movie staple in comedies, and when it works, it can be amazing (Some Like It Hot, The Birdcage, Mrs. Doubtfire). Unfortunately, this particular series is just a drag.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why cross-dressing comedies are popular. Why are there so many more drag comedies with men dressed up as women instead of the reverse?

  • How does this movie portray teenage girls? Is it that common for girls to have eating disorders and throw lingerie-flaunting pajama parties? What do you think about Trent's comment about shopping being for girls what sports is for guys?

  • What does cross-dressing teach Trent about girls? Does it help him treat girls better?

  • What's the lesson about going to college versus skipping it to pursue your dreams?

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