There are Hollywood stars who transcend their status as actors to become celebrities with countless followers around the world. It doesn’t matter whether they are good or bad actors, they are guaranteed to have a good collection of films just because they are heroes; And that’s why they can intermingle in all genres. This is the case for Will Smith (even before he famously slapped Chris Rock), Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) and Adam Sandler for fans of Jennifer Lopez-JLO who, after rising to fame as a singer and comedic actress, now ventures into the action thriller The Mother (The Mother, 2023), currently the most watched Netflix film in Peru and 80 other countries around the world.
JLo plays a former member of the United States Special Forces whose name has been withheld. He is an expert in weapons, knives and hand-to-hand combat, with an impressive number of “confirmed kills”, we are informed. After leaving the army, he becomes involved in arms smuggling with Hector Alvarez (played by Mexican actor Gael García Bernal), and Adrian Lovell (British Joseph Fiennes). During this time, the protagonist becomes pregnant by one of them (it is never said which one). With the birth of his daughter, the hero leaves the world of crime. The FBI offers her amnesty, but only if she turns her daughter over to adoption authorities and assumes a new identity in Alaska. However, years later, he learns that his former criminal associates are interested in kidnapping his daughter – Zoe, played by Mexican Lucy Paez, who is already 12 years old. It is then that he realizes that he must face his former allies and protect his daughter at any cost.
Of course JLo doesn’t disappoint her followers, mostly women her age (around 50 years) and gives them what they always hope to find in her movies: a story of an empowered, independent and confident woman. That’s it; And he has to face a big challenge. And it does it in the most radical way possible, with several fast-paced action sequences: from the beginning, an ambush with shootouts and multiple deaths; until the end, an ambush (this time in the Alaskan snow) with shooting and several deaths. In between we see a relentless chase through the streets of Cuba and several other nice action sequences, with the beautiful landscapes used very well by the film’s cinematographer Ben Seresin. Yes, beauty and glamour, two other attributes that characterize JLo’s movies, are almost exclusively in the landscape here. But there is no shortage of scenes in which JLo shows off her famous butt (draped in a very tight white dress) or a luxurious and beautiful fur coat that the protagonist uses on his regular hunt in Alaska.
But as far as the “merits” of the film go, as in all other aspects we find serious problems. The plot is full of holes and patches (there’s much left to be told about the protagonist’s past or why suddenly so many people are trying to kidnap Zoe), the secondary characters are barely worked out (Garcia Bernal and Fiennes is wasted, turning into some ) unsightly villains) and even JLo’s own performance is questionable. We know she’s not much of an actress (she’ll never be nominated for an Oscar), but at least she has some comedic flair. Unfortunately, here she is playing the most “serious” role of her life, trying to look like a tough lady (“tough” in a Clint Eastwood way), who hardly gives herself a hint of humor or permission. Gives And also when she has to show her affection, she still teaches Zoe to shoot or fight with a knife.
On balance, The Mother is an engrossing action film, with great cinematography and acceptable production and direction – by New Zealander Nikki Caro. It won’t disappoint those who want to see “the last of JLo.” And nor for those who want to be distracted for a while, from the comfort of their homes, watch some good fights, beautiful natural landscapes and of course the always sensuous and glamorous JLo.
