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Helicopter Mom
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Comedy about overly involved mom has a little edge.
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Helicopter Mom
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What's the Story?
HELICOPTER MOM stars Nia Vardalos as Maggie, the titular super-involved mother who thinks she and her high school-senior son, Lloyd (Jason Dolley), are best friends -- when really, she's overbearing, and he can't wait to move away for college. Believing her son is gay (he's not quite sure himself yet), Maggie starts outing him to friends, her ex-husband/Lloyd's father, and the school. She even goes so far as to enter him in a scholarship contest for LGBTQ teens and set him up on blind dates with young men. But once Lloyd is named to the senior prom court, he begins to have feelings for Carrie (Skyler Samuels), confusing himself and angering his mom.
Is It Any Good?
Vardalos is more cringe-inducing than amusing as a clueless mother who thinks she's helping her son by planning out their hypothetical future as a gay man and his proud mom. And the dialogue borders on ridiculous when she says that she thinks growing old with a fabulous gay man for a son will mean trips to Paris, a well-decorated room in the assisted living facility, and season tickets to the opera. For a movie with an ostensible message about tolerance and unconditional love, these jokes and comments are eye-rollingly stereotypical.
The performers do their best with the material. Vardalos attempts to humanize Maggie, and Mark Boone Junior (Sons of Anarchy) is entertaining as her rocker ex, who still loves Maggie and wants to be there for his son. Dolley and Samuels are decent young actors, but they don't have enough chemistry to turn their new friendship into the blossoming romance the movie demands. With parenting styles like "helicopter mom," "tiger mom," and "freerange mom" thrown around so often, it's inevitable to see one of the terms poked fun at, but this storyline doesn't really allow Maggie to grow and evolve into the kind of mother Lloyd needs until it's basically too late.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the term "helicopter mom," and how it's depicted in the movie. What makes Maggie a "helicopter mom"? Discuss whether this is believable behavior and how parenting styles differ in real life. Teens, how would you react if your parents acted like Maggie? Parents, talk to your teens about the best way to set (and recognize) boundaries.
What do you think about all the jokes and references to being gay? Did you notice any stereotypes?
Do you think more movies should represent LGBTQ teens?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 24, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: May 17, 2016
- Cast: Nia Vardalos , Skyler Samuels , Jason Dolley
- Director: Salome Breziner
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: eOne Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: High School
- Run time: 81 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: April 9, 2023
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