On Netflix beginning May 12, ‘The Mother’ is the streaming service’s latest attempt to add to the action thriller genre, though even the mother-daughter relationship at its core and some other tweaks aren’t quite enough to overcome a rote, bland script and uninspired direction.
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What’s the story of ‘The Mother’?
12 years ago, an unnamed woman (Jennifer Lopez) is being questioned by the FBI in a safe house that soon becomes anything but.
She’s been brought in because she has connections to a couple of violent arms dealers –– Joseph Fiennes’ Adrian and Gael García Bernal’s Hector –– whose trade she helped facilitate but got out when she discovered they were also trafficking children.
Oh, and she’s pregnant with a daughter by one of them. But when the attempt to protect her goes violently wrong, she’s left with little choice but to give the newborn up to foster care and relocate to the wilds of Alaska, lest her old suitors track her or the child down and finish their vengeful mission.
But wouldn’t you know it? 12 years later, Hector does end up finding the kid (Zoe, played by Lucy Paez) and The Mother will have to employ all the sniper and other skills she picked up in the military and working with the two baddies in order to save the girl –– and herself.
Cue a cat-and-mouse chase that stretches from suburban Ohio to the harsh wilderness up north (where The Mother has something of a home field advantage despite the resources of her enemies).
Since breaking into acting back in 1986 (and breaking out thanks to the likes of ‘Selena’ and ‘Out of Sight’), Jennifer Lopez has consistently proved to be one of the more chameleonic of music performers-turned-actors. She’s switched between frothy rom-coms (‘Maid in Manhattan’, ‘The Wedding Planner’, ‘Monster-in-Law’) and drama (‘Enough’, ‘The Boy Next Door’) and more knockabout romps such as this year’s ‘Shotgun Wedding’. And there have been the prestige stops along the way, including the well-received ‘Hustlers’ and ‘Shall We Dance’.
‘The Mother’, though, finds her looking to get into more of an action sphere (a territory she’s only occasionally trodden before), and unfortunately the results feel like a watered-down version of something like ‘Taken’.
While the idea of a tough mother taking down the villains threatening her and her child is certainly a compelling one, what actually unspools falls far short of truly entertaining.
Lopez certainly throws herself into the role, making for a convincing former military sniper and all-round bad ass who is suddenly in a situation she always wanted but never got the chance to train for: motherhood.
Similarly, Paez manages to have Zoe evolve from whiny teen to something more like the birth mother she’s never met until she gets kidnapped by one of the villains.
That’s a road the movie keeps taking, almost the distraction: how many times can it put Zoe in trouble, requiring The Mother (she really is never properly named) to step in and do her thing. Hardwick, as her main FBI contact, at least has a few scenes that offer him more than just grunting broad, heard-it-before dialogue.
The actual villain characters –– especially poor old Bernal –– are completely underserved, stock characters who see little in terms of development. Bernal’s role (which feels like it was sliced down) amounts to a brief moment at the start and then one scene in the middle of the movie. Filmmakers like to argue that they cast great actors to bring life to small roles, but with a part as tiny as Bernal’s, it would take a miracle to resuscitate it at all .
Likewise, Edie Falco, who shows up at the start to deliver some exposition and look haughty, then is never seen again. That’s not “bringing to life” a small role, that’s a giant waste of her time, and the sort of character that even back in the 1990s, ‘Austin Powers’ was making fun of.
Fiennes has a little more to chew on, Adrian handed some bigger scenes up front then treated as the main villain through the final act. He also has much more motivation for his vengeful feelings towards The Mother.
A knocked-off, less-than-thrilling impact effects the rest of the movie almost to the same degree, despite a script credited to three experienced writers (Misha Green of ‘Lovecraft Country’, ‘The Town’s Peter Craig and ‘Blood Father’s Andrea Berloff).
Aside from a couple of effective set-pieces (Lopez stalking through a darkened compound, taking out henchmen with silenced weapons, and a few moments from the big finale in Alaska), the action is largely on the average scale, lacking the sort of truly dynamic, inventive stunt work of, say, ‘Atomic Blonde’ or anything from the ‘John Wick’ series.
And indeed, with tracks from Massive Attack, Portishead and Kate Bush, the movie itself feels like a throwback to 1980s and 1990s action thrillers, for good and ill.
Given director Niki Caro’s background in indie movies, the new effort doesn’t exactly boast much of a creative sensibility that stamps it with much of an identity. It could be a hundred other movies –– Netflix itself produced ‘Lou’, which starred Allison Janney as a former CIA/military type with a particular set of skills who has to help a mother/daughter duo when they’re targeted by someone violent. That at least had the benefit of more time and effort taken with both the lead character and the others.
Final Thoughts
‘The Mother’ is being pitched as a Mother’s Day release, but unless you know that many mothers and daughters who bond over watching Liam Neeson movies or the ‘Wick’ films, this seems unlikely to have wide appeal. And even if they do, there are other, better examples out there.
One of them, the Argentine film ‘Argentina, 1985,’ is nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards.
The streaming studio has also produced some high profile sequels in recent years including ‘Coming 2 America’ and ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,’as well as big budget action movies like ‘Without Remorse’ and ‘The Tomorrow War,’ and romantic comedies like ‘The People We Hate at the Wedding’ and ‘Shotgun Wedding.’
In honor of ‘Argentina, 1985’s Oscar nomination, Moviefone is counting down the 25 best Amazon Prime Video Original Movies of all time.
Doesn’t every girl dream of getting… something from Tiffany’s? On 5th Avenue in New York City, where nothing compares to the magic and excitement of the holidays, where the streets blaze with lights, and windows dazzle, a special box from Tiffany could change the course of a person’s life. Or several lives.
Rachel (Zoey Deutch) and Gary (Ray Nicholson) are happy enough but not quite ready for that big commitment. Ethan (Kendrick Sampson) and Vanessa (Shay Mitchell), the perfect picture, are just about to make it official. When a simple mix-up of gifts causes all of their paths to cross, it sets off a series of twists and unexpected discoveries that lead them where they’re truly meant to be. Because love — like life — is full of surprises.
Emma (Jenny Slate) and Peter (Charlie Day) thought they were on the precipice of life’s biggest moments – marriage, kids, and houses in the suburbs – until their respective partners (Scott Eastwood and Gina Rodriguez) dumped them. In their thirties and terrified that they have missed their shot at happily ever after, Emma and Peter are horrified to learn that their partners have already moved on. With no prospects on the horizon and the threat of dying alone hanging over their heads, they hatch a desperate plan to put an end to their exes’ new relationships and win them back.
In rural 1977 Georgia, a misfit girl (McKenna Grace) dreams of life in outer space. When a national competition offers her a chance at her dream, to be recorded on NASA’s Golden Record, she recruits a makeshift troupe of Birdie Scouts, forging friendships that last a lifetime and beyond. Also starring Oscar winners Viola Davis and Allison Janney.
A terminally ill man (John Cho) and his teenage daughter (Mia Isaac) embark on a road trip from California to New Orleans for his 20th college reunion. While there, he secretly hopes she can reunite with the mother (Kaya Scodelario) who left them long ago.
After moving into a beautiful loft apartment in Downtown Montreal, a young couple (Sydney Sweeney and Justice Smith), find themselves becoming increasingly interested in the sex life of their eccentric neighbors across the street (Ben Hardy and Natasha Liu Bordizzo).
What starts out as an innocent curiosity slowly turns into an unhealthy obsession, after they discover that one of these neighbors is cheating on the other. Temptation and desire cause their lives to become tangled together in unexpected ways, leading to deadly consequences. Breathing new life into the forgotten genre of erotic thriller, ‘The Voyeurs’ asks the question, “Is it okay to watch?”
Three black women (Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, and Amber Gray) who strive to find their place at the celebrated Ancaster College, an elite university in New England. The school was built on the site of a Salem-era gallows hill and the ghostly legacies of Puritan-era persecution haunt the campus in an increasingly supernatural fashion.The plot examines how each of these women will — or won’t — survive in this space of privilege.
The story of Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie (Rosamund Pike) and her extraordinary scientific discoveries—through the prism of her marriage to husband Pierre (Sam Riley) and the seismic and transformative effects their discovery of radium had on the 20th century.
A mind-bending love story following Greg (Owen Wilson) who, after recently being divorced and then fired, meets the mysterious Isabel (Salma Hayek), a woman living on the streets and convinced that the polluted, broken world around them is just a computer simulation. Doubtful at first, Greg eventually discovers there may be some truth to Isabel’s wild conspiracy.
When terrorists try to seize control of a Berlin-Paris flight, a soft-spoken young American co-pilot (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) struggles to save the lives of the passengers and crew while forging a surprising connection with one of the hijackers (Omid Memar).
In 1862, daredevil balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) teams up with pioneering meteorologist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) to advance human knowledge of the weather and fly higher than anyone in history. While breaking records and advancing scientific discovery, their voyage to the very edge of existence helps the unlikely pair find their place in the world they have left far below them. But they face physical and emotional challenges in the thin air, as the ascent becomes a fight for survival.
The inspirational true story of Opportunity, a rover that was sent to Mars for a 90-day mission but ended up surviving for 15 years. Follow Opportunity’s groundbreaking journey on Mars and the remarkable bond forged between a robot and her humans millions of miles away. The film is narrated by Angela Bassett.
In 1973, when Frank Bledsoe (Paul Bettany) and his 18-year-old niece Beth (Sophia Lillis) take a road trip from Manhattan to Creekville, South Carolina for the family patriarch’s (Stephen Root) funeral, they’re unexpectedly joined by Frank’s lover Walid (Peter Macdissi).
Cinderella (Camila Cabello), an orphaned girl with an evil stepmother (Idina Menzel), has big dreams and with the help of her Fabulous Godmother (Billy Porter), she perseveres to make them come true.
Anything’s Possible is a delightfully modern Gen Z coming-of-age story that follows Kelsa (Eva Reign), a confident high school girl who is trans, as she navigates through senior year. When her classmate Khal (Abubakr Ali) gets a crush on her, he musters up the courage to ask her out, despite the drama he knows it could cause. What transpires is a romance that showcases the joy, tenderness, and pain of young love. Directed by Billy Porter.
A dysfunctional family that can’t seem to get along and get it together reluctantly reunites for a family wedding. As their many skeletons are wrenched from the closet, it turns out to be just what this singular family needs to reconnect. Starring Kristen Bell, Ben Platt, Allison Janney, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson.
In Shotgun Wedding, Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. Now, Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones—if they don’t kill each other first.
When a young woman (Tessa Thompson) meets an aspiring saxophonist (Nnamdi Asomugha) in her father’s record shop in 1950s Harlem, their love ignites a sweeping romance that transcends changing times, geography, and professional success.
In the late 1990s, the arrival of elderly invalid Patrick (Rupert Everett) into Marion (Gina McKee) and Tom’s (Linus Roache) home triggers the exploration of seismic events from 40 years previous: the passionate relationship between Tom (Harry Styles) and Patrick (David Dawson) at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Emma Corrin plays the younger version of Marion.
Thirteen-year-old Sam Cleary (Javon “Wanna” Walton) suspects that his mysterious and reclusive neighbor Mr. Smith (Sylvester Stallone) is actually a legend hiding in plain sight. Twenty years ago, Granite City’s super-powered vigilante, Samaritan, was reported dead after a fiery warehouse battle with his rival, Nemesis. Most believe Samaritan perished in the fire, but some in the city, like Sam, have hope that he is still alive. With crime on the rise and the city on the brink of chaos, Sam makes it his mission to coax his neighbor out of hiding to save the city from ruin.
(L to R) Chris Pratt, Edwin Hodge and Sam Richardson star in ‘The Tomorrow War.’ Property of Amazon Prime Video.
The world is stunned when a group of time travelers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future, mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is high school teacher and family man Dan Forester (Chris Pratt). Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist (Yvonne Strahovski) and his estranged father (J.K. Simmons) in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet.
Prince Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) is set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son (Jermaine Fowler) he never knew about in America – a street savvy Queens native named Lavelle (Leslie Jones). Honoring his royal father’s (James Earl Jones) dying wish to groom this son as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi (Arsenio Hall) set off to America once again.
When a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret op, Sr. Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan) pursues the assassins at all costs. Joining forces with a fellow SEAL (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a shadowy CIA agent (Jamie Bell), Kelly’s mission unwittingly exposes a covert plot that threatens to engulf the U.S. and Russia in an all-out war. Torn between personal honor and loyalty to his country, Kelly must fight his enemies without remorse if he hopes to avert disaster and reveal the powerful figures behind the conspiracy.
In the 1980s, a team of lawyers takes on the heads of Argentina’s bloody military dictatorship in a battle against odds and a race against time. Starring Ricardo Darin, Peter Lanzani, and Alejandra Flechner.
Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat Margaret Sagdiyev in Prime Video’s ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.’
14 years after making a film about his journey across the USA, Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) risks life and limb when he returns to the United States with his young daughter (Maria Bakalova), and reveals more about the culture, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the political elections.
The artist also known as J.Lo can sing, dance, act in comedies like ‘Monster-in-Law,’ dramas like ‘Hustlers,’ or action movies like ‘Money Train,’ and is a fashion icon and a living legend!
Lopez’ latest movie, which is a romantic action comedy called ‘Shotgun Wedding’ also starring Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Coolidge, will debut on Prime Video beginning January 27th.
In honor of the new film’s release, Moviefone is counting down the 25 best movies of Jennifer Lopez’s career, including ‘Shotgun Wedding.”
Jack Powell (Robin Williams) suffers from an affliction that makes him grow four times faster than normal, so the 10-year-old looks like a 40-year-old man. After years of being tutored at home, Jack convinces his overprotective parents (Diane Lane and Brian Kerwin) to send him to public school. The children don’t know what to make of Jack, but with the help of his fifth-grade teacher (Lopez), he makes an effort to win them over.
Maya (Lopez) is a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a second act.
When Zoe (Lopez) tires of looking for Mr. Right, she decides to have a baby on her own. But on the day she’s artificially inseminated, she meets Stan (Alex O’Loughlin), who seems to be just who she’s been searching for all her life. Now, Zoe has to figure out how to make her two life’s dreams fit with each other.
Challenges of impending parenthood turn the lives of five couples upside down. Two celebrities (Cameron Diaz and Matthew Morrison) are unprepared for the surprise demands of pregnancy; hormones wreak havoc on a baby-crazy author (Elizabeth Banks), while her husband (Ben Falcone) tries not to be outdone by his father (Dennis Quaid), who’s expecting twins with his young trophy wife (Brooklyn Decker); a photographer’s husband (Rodrigo Santoro) isn’t sure about his wife’s (Lopez) adoption plans; a one-time hook-up results in a surprise pregnancy for rival food-truck owners.
A recently cheated on married woman (Lopez) falls for a younger man (Ryan Guzman) who has moved in next door, but their torrid affair soon takes a dangerous turn.
A neurotic worker ant (Woody Allen) in love with a rebellious princess (Sharon Stone) rises to unlikely stardom when he switches places with a soldier (Sylvester Stallone). Signing up to march in a parade, he ends up under the command of a bloodthirsty general (Gene Hackman). But he’s actually been enlisted to fight against a termite army.
Lila (Viola Davis), a grief-stricken mother reeling from her son’s (Aml Ameen) murder, attends a support group where she meets Eve (Lopez), who urges her to take matters into her own hands to track down her son’s killers.
When Bobby’s (Sean Penn) car breaks down in the desert while on the run from some of the bookies who have already taken two of his fingers, he becomes trapped in the nearby small town where the people are stranger than anyone he’s encountered. After becoming involved with a young married woman (Lopez), her husband (Nick Nolte) hires Bobby to kill her. Later, she hires Bobby to kill the husband.
Working-class waitress Slim (Lopez) thought she was entering a life of domestic bliss when she married Mitch (Billy Campbell), the man of her dreams. After the arrival of their first child, her picture perfect life is shattered when she discovers Mitch’s hidden possessive dark side, a controlling and abusive alter ego that can turn trust, love and tranquility into terror. Terrified for her child’s safety, Slim flees with her daughter. Relentless in his pursuit and enlisting the aid of lethal henchmen, Mitch continually stalks the prey that was once his family.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in ‘Marry Me’
Music superstars Kat Valdez (Lopez) and Bastian (Maluma) are getting married before a global audience of fans. But when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she decides to marry Charlie (Owen Wilson), a stranger in the crowd, instead.
Traces over three generations an immigrant family’s trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs. Maria (Lopez) and Jose (Jacob Vargas), the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930s. They establish their family in East L.A., and their children Chucho (Esai Morales), Paco (Edward James Olmos), Memo (Enrique Castillo), Irene (Lupe Ontiveros), Toni (Constance Marie), and Jimmy (Jimmy Smits) deal with youth culture and the L.A. police in the ’50s. As the second generation become adults in the ’60s, the focus shifts to Jimmy, his marriage to Salvadorian refugee Isabel (Elpidia Carrillo), their son, and Jimmy’s journey to becoming a responsible parent.
When a vengeful New York transit cop (Woody Harrelson) decides to steal a trainload of subway fares, his foster brother—a fellow cop (Wesley Snipes) tries to protect him.
Office temp Charlotte Cantilini (Lopez) thinks she’s found Mr. Right when she starts dating gorgeous surgeon Dr. Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan). But there’s a problem standing in the way of everlasting bliss: Kevin’s overbearing and controlling mother, Viola (Jane Fonda). Fearing she’ll lose her son’s affections forever, Viola decides to break up the happy couple by becoming the world’s worst mother-in-law.
A thief (Jason Statham) with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman (Lopez) on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew’s latest heist.
San Francisco’s premiere wedding planner, Mary Fiore (Lopez) is rescued from an accident by the man of her dreams, paediatrician Steve Edison (Matthew McConaughey), only to find he is the fiancé of her latest client (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras). As Mary continues making the wedding arrangements, she and Steve are put into a string of uncomfortable situations that force them to face their mutual attraction.
A “National Geographic” film crew (Lopez, Ice Cube and Owen Wilson) are taken hostage by an insane hunter (Jon Voight), who takes them along on his quest to capture the world’s largest – and deadliest – snake.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
In Shotgun Wedding, Darcy (Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. “Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones—if they don’t kill each other first.
A man (Jack Nicholson) who has failed as a father and husband commits a heist to make money for his fledging business, but things become complicated when his wife (Judy Davis) interferes. Also starring Lopez, Michael Caine, and Stephen Dorff.
Marisa Ventura (Lopez) is a struggling single mom who works at a posh Manhattan hotel and dreams of a better life for her and her young son. One fateful day, hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes) meets Marisa and mistakes her for a wealthy socialite. After an enchanting evening together, the two fall madly in love. But when Marisa’s true identity is revealed, issues of class and social status threaten to separate them. Can two people from very different worlds overcome their differences and live happily ever after?
In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla (Lopez) is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham (Edward James Olmos), realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds success and falls for her guitarist, Chris Perez (Jon Seda), who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete.
Meet Jack Foley (George Clooney), a smooth criminal who bends the law and is determined to make one last heist. Karen Sisco (Lopez) is a federal marshal who chooses all the right moves … and all the wrong guys. Now they’re willing to risk it all to find out if there’s more between them than just the law.
The new movie stars Jennifer Lopez (‘Hustlers’) and Josh Duhamel (‘Bandit’) as Darcy and Tom, respectively, who decide to have a destination wedding on a small island. As their family and friends arrive, including Darcy’s Ex-boyfriend Sean (Lenny Kravitz), the couple get cold feet and begin to argue. But they soon must come together to save the wedding guest’s when they are all taken hostage by Pirates.
The result is an entertaining and funny romantic action comedy, which features strong performances from the cast but is also very predictable.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
I’m a sucker for any movie with a ‘Die Hard’ theme. It doesn’t matter if it is ‘Die Hard’ on a plane (‘Passenger 57’) or ‘Die Hard’ in the White House (‘Olympus Has Fallen’), I’ll watch it! Which is probably why I enjoyed ‘Shotgun Wedding’ because it’s basically just ‘Die Hard’ at a wedding. With all the ‘Die Hard’ clones that have been made over the years, I was surprised to realize that no one had thought of setting it at a wedding until now.
Originally conceived as a vehicle for Ryan Reynolds, who still serves as executive producer, the film was clearly retooled for Jennifer Lopez’s strengths once she came on board the project. And Lopez is uniquely qualified to star in this particular film as she is both believable in romantic comedies like ‘The Wedding Planner’ and ‘Maid in Manhattan,’ as well as action movies like ‘Out of Sight’ and ‘Parker.’ Lopez is in complete command in the romantic scenes with Duhamel, but she can also hold her own in the comedic scenes with Jennifer Coolidge, and looks completely believable firing a giant gun at the bad guys.
In some ways, this is really the complete Jennifer Lopez performance as you get a little bit of everything she’s good at, including singing, as there is one musical number at the end of the movie.
Veteran actor Josh Duhamel is probably best known from his appearances in the ‘Transformers’ movies, but has never really been given the opportunity to shine until now. Not unlike Lopez, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ gives Duhamel an opportunity to combine his comedic skills with his ability to be believable in an action role. The actor has some very funny moments in the movie, as well as sweet romantic scenes with Lopez, but also excels as an action-hero, along with J. Lo.
Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
Jennifer Coolidge, finally a household name for her work on ‘The White Lotus’ and her award season acceptance speeches, plays Tom’s overprotective mother and is hilarious as always in the part. She essentially plays the same basic character she always plays, but it works perfectly for this project. She has great chemistry with Lopez, and even gets to shoot a gun herself in one scene.
Cheech Marin and Sonia Braga were also nice to see playing Darcy’s estranged parents, and Marin has some fun scenes with D’Arcy Carden, who plays his new girlfriend. Marin also has a funny storyline with Lenny Kravitz’s Sean, Darcy’s ex-boyfriend who her father is still in touch with and invites to the wedding. Kravitz probably gives the weakest performance in the movie, and is basically just playing a version of himself. The character might have worked better if he actually played himself, and if Darcy’s ex was the real Lenny Kravitz! Unfortunately, as it is in the movie, the thrill of seeing Kravitz on screen wears off quick and you are left with a lackluster performance.
(L to R) Cheech Marin as Robert Rivera and Lenny Kravitz as Sean Hawkins in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
In fact, the biggest problem with the film is its predictability. Obviously, we know that Tom and Darcy will survive, they will save the guests, and get married by the end of the movie, but we get there without any real surprises, which makes the movie drag at times. Even the reveal of the “true villain” in the third act was no real surprise, and could have been more of a mystery.
While the romantic comedy elements are baked into the premise of the film, it’s the action sequences directed by Jason Moore that really make the film work. There is a thrilling zipline scene with Duhamel, and Lopez has some great moments with a hand grenade. But one of the best action scenes in the movie involves a helicopter/boat chase at the end of the film.
At the end of the day, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ is a satisfying and entertaining romantic action comedy because of the strong performances from Lopez and Duhamel, who excel in this specific genre. It works as a cute rom-com, but also as a big budget action movie, and the supporting cast, especially Coolidge help fill out the film, even if it is predictable at times.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
Lopez and Duhamel star as Darcy and Tom, a couple that are having their wedding on a remote tropical island. Trouble begins when Darcy’s ex-boyfriend (Lenny Kravitz) arrives uninvited, and the wedding guests, including their parents, are taken hostage by Pirates. Now, Tom and Darcy must work together to save their guests as well as their wedding day.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Coolidge and Cheech Marin about their work on ‘Shotgun Wedding,’ their outragous characters, Coolidge’s gun training, and working with Jennifer Lopez.
Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Coolidge, Marin, D’Arcy Carden, Steve Coulter, Selena Tan, and Callie Hernandez.
Moviefone: To begin with, Jennifer, can you talk about Carol’s overprotective relationship with her son, Tom, and how she feels about his marriage to Darcy?
Jennifer Coolidge: Because Carol has only had sex twice in her life, I think she’s very worried about her son being seduced by a very sexy Darcy. She’s especially blowing it before the wedding. Someone like Carol can’t relate to her sexy in-law, for sure. She can’t relate, so she’s got to shut it down. Pull out the garden hose and get off my lawn!
MF: You really get involved in the action sequences and have a scene where you are firing a machine gun. Was that fun for you to do and what kind of training did you have for that scene?
JC: They were very worried about me with the gun, the production, I think, so I had more gun classes than I could handle. I had many gun classes, so I was ready. I got a gun diploma and everything. I love that they took that much time to make sure that I wouldn’t be dangerous to anybody. How cool is it to be a little James Bond, or some Michelle Yeoh moment, or whatever.
Cheech Marin stars in Prime Video’s ‘Shotgun Wedding.’
MF: Cheech, can you talk about Robert’s relationship with his girlfriend Harriet, and the drama that it causes when he brings her to his daughter’s wedding?
Cheech Marin: Well, there’s a lot of drama because I play Darcy’s father and I invite her ex-boyfriend, played by Lenny Kravitz, to the ceremony. So, you know stuff’s going to happen right away like, “What the hell did you do that for?” So, it was interesting, but this was a great cast of characters. We all got along really well, and each of us was very different than the other. But to bring your girlfriend to your daughter’s wedding, you know hijinks ensue and you’re going to be surprised.
MF: Finally, what was it like for you working with Jennifer Lopez and playing her dad?
CM: It was wonderful. I mean, she’s a really good actress to work with, and a good producer to work with, who’s acting at the same time. I’ve done both, and it’s a handful, but she was always on her marks and ready to go. She set the mark, and she sang at the Presidential inauguration right before we started. She had legit chops. Because I’m a musician myself, I asked her about that, “What was the makeup of the orchestra?” She said it was very minimal so you could really hear her voice, and she belted it out.
Jennifer Coolidge stars in Prime Video’s ‘Shotgun Wedding.’
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2023 has just started and its already shaping up to be another incredible year for movies!
From long-awaited sequels such as ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ and ‘Dune: Part Two’ to a live-action remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ and even an adaption of ‘Barbie,’ 2023 promises a little bit of something for everyone.
Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming in 2023, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.
A brilliant toy company roboticist (Allison Williams) uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to emotionally bond with her newly orphaned niece (Violet McGraw). But when the doll’s programming works too well, she becomes overprotective of her new friend with terrifying results.
(L to R) Jermaine Fowler and Anna Konkle in Hulu’s ‘The Drop.’
Premiering on Hulu, in this clever cringe comedy, a seemingly happy married couple (Jermaine Fowler and Anna Konkle) confronts a test of their marriage when one of them drops a baby while at a destination wedding at a tropical island.
(L to R) Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance and Mike Colter as Louis Gaspare in “Plane.’ Photo Credit: Kenneth Rexach.
After a heroic job of successfully landing his storm-damaged aircraft in a war zone, a fearless pilot (Gerard Butler) finds himself between the agendas of multiple militias planning to take the plane and its passengers hostage.
(L to R) Briella Guiza as Lucy, David Mattle as Spencer, and Zach Gilford as Ben Winslow in ‘There’s Something Wrong With The Children.’
When Margaret (Alisha Wainwright) and Ben (Zach Gilford) take a weekend trip with longtime friends Ellie (Amanda Crew) and Thomas (Carlos Santos) and their two young children (Briella Guiza and David Mattle), Ben begins to suspect something supernatural is occurring when the kids behave strangely after disappearing into the wood.
In the taut thriller, Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick (‘Up in the Air‘) stars as a woman pushed to the breaking point by her psychologically abusive boyfriend, Simon (Charlie Carrick). While on vacation with two close girlfriends (Kaniehtiio Horn and Wunmi Mosaku), Alice rediscovers the essence of herself and gains some much-needed perspective. Slowly, she starts to fray the cords of codependency that bind her. But Simon’s vengeance is as inevitable as it is shattering – and, once unleashed, it tests Alice’s strength, her courage, and the bonds of her deep-rooted friendships.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
Premiering on Prime Video, Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. “’Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones—if they don’t kill each other first.
(L to R) Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård star in Brandon Cronenberg’s ‘Infinity Pool.’
While staying at an isolated island resort, James (Alexander Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are enjoying a perfect vacation of pristine beaches, exceptional staff, and soaking up the sun. But guided by the seductive and mysterious Gabi (Mia Goth), they venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism, and untold horror.
(L to R) Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Sally Field in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.
The movie is inspired by the true story of four best friends (Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field) living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady play.
While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.
(L to R) Kit Harington and Noémie Merlant in ‘Baby Ruby.’
The tightly scripted world of a vlogger and influencer unravels as postpartum depression, a lack of support from those in her orbit, and her baby’s apparent hostility all mount. Starring Noémie Merlant and Kit Harington.
(L to R) Channing Tatum as Mike Lane and Salma Hayek Pinault as Maxandra Mendoza in Warner Bros. Pictures musical comedy ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Salma Hayek) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse… and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off?
Superhero duo Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), together with Hope’s parents Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures, and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.
Keri Russell in director Elizabeth Banks’ ‘Cocaine Bear.’
Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner’s plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild thriller finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500- pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow … and blood.
Kelsey Grammer as Chuck Smith in ‘Jesus Revolution.’ Photo Credit: Dan Anderson.
In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher. Together with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), they open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival of radical and newfound love, leading to what Time Magazine dubbed a “Jesus Revolution.”
After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damien Anderson (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damien – a fighter who has nothing to lose.
Willem Dafoe stars as Nemo in director Vasilis Katsoupis’ ‘Inside,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Wolfgang Ennenbach / Focus Features.
The movie tells the story of Nemo (Willem Dafoe), an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive.
Billy Batson (Zachary Levi and Asher Angel) and his foster siblings, who transform into superheroes by saying “Shazam!”, are forced to get back into action and fight the Daughters of Atlas (Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler), who they must stop from using a weapon that could destroy the world.
Debuting on Hulu, Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) was the first reporter to connect the murders and break the story of the Boston Strangler. She and fellow reporter Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) challenged the sexism of the early ’60s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer and worked tirelessly to keep women informed. McLaughlin pursued the story at great personal risk and uncovered corruption that cast doubt on the true identity of the Boston Strangler.
(L to R) Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda star in director Paul Weitz’s ‘Moving On.’
Two old friends (Jane Fond and Lily Tomlin) who reconnect at a funeral, and decide to exact revenge on the widower (Richard Roundtree) who wronged them decades before.
(L to R) Casey Metcalfe as Marlon, James Day Keith as Benny, Woody Harrelson as Marcus, Ashton Gunning as Cody, and Tom Sinclair as Blair in director Bobby Farrelly’s ‘Champions,’ a Focus Features release. Courtesy of Focus Features
Woody Harrelson stars in the hilarious and heartwarming story of a former minor-league basketball coach who, after a series of missteps, is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.
(L to R) Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
Allison (Florence Pugh) is a young woman with a bright future – a wonderful fiancé, a blossoming career, and supportive family and friends. But her world crumbles in the blink of an eye when she survives an unimaginable tragedy and emerges from recovery with an opioid addiction and unresolved grief. In the following years, it is the unlikely friendship she forms with her would-be father-in-law (Morgan Freeman) that gives her a fighting chance to put herself back together and move forward with her life.
(L to R) Justice Smith plays Simon, Sophia Lillis plays Doric, Chris Pine plays Edgin and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures.
A charming thief (Chris Pine) and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ will open in theaters on April 7, 2023.
A plumber named Mario (Chris Pratt) travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi (Charlie Day), trying to save a captured princess (Anya Taylor-Joy).
(L to R) Phillipa Soo as Emma and Simu Liu as Sam in the romance, ‘One True Loves,’ The Avenue release. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
The story follows the moving love story of a woman (Phillipa Soo) unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband (Luke Bracey) she has long thought dead and the fiancé (Simu Liu) who brought her back to life.
(L to R) Nicolas Cage as Count Dracula, and Nicholas Hoult as Renfield in director Chris McKay’s ‘Renfield.’
Centered on R.M. Renfield (Nicholas Hoult), who was an inmate at a lunatic asylum who was thought to be suffering from delusions, but is actually a servant of Dracula (Nicolas Cage).
Road-weary Beth (Lily Sullivan) pays an overdue visit to her older sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.A. apartment. But the sisters’ reunion is cut short by the discovery of a mysterious book deep in the bowels of Ellie’s building which gives rise to flesh-possessing demons, and thrusts the sisters into a primal battle for survival as they’re faced with the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’
After acquiring Knowhere from the Collector (Benicio del Toro), we find the Guardians working to repair the extreme damage done by Thanos (Josh Brolin), determined to make Knowhere a safe haven, not only for themselves, but for all refugees displaced by the harsh universe.
It isn’t long before their attempt to return to normal is upended by a brutal attack from a new unknown enemy, and Peter (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
The highly anticipated sequel follows our four best friends (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen) as they take their book club to Italy for the fun girls trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel (Halle Bailey) longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s (Javier Bardem) crown – in jeopardy.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ lands in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) returns for the next chapter of the Oscar-winning ‘Spider-Verse saga.’ After reuniting with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence.
But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.
‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new breed of Transformer – the Maximals – to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback.
In a city where fire, water, land, & air residents live together, a fiery young woman (Leah Lewis) & a go-with-the-flow guy (Mamoudou Athie) will discover something elemental: How much they have in common.
Finding himself in a new era, approaching retirement, Indy (Harrison Ford) wrestles with fitting into a world that seems to have outgrown him. But as the tentacles of an all-too-familiar evil return in the form of an old rival (Mads Mikkelsen), Indy must don his hat and pick up his whip once more to make sure an ancient and powerful artifact doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels’ opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) trade places with each other every time they use their powers and must team up to fix their problem.
A single mom named Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her 9-year-old son, who are looking to start a new life, move into a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans, only to discover that the place is much more than they bargained for.
‘A Haunting in Venice’ is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 15, 2023.
Celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), now retired and living in self-imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.
Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
(L to R) Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird and Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.
But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.
An adaptation of the Broadway musical ‘The Color Purple,’ based on the acclaimed novel and its film adaptation, and starring Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, and H.E.R.
When an ancient power is unleashed, Aquaman (Jason Momoa) must forge an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to protect Atlantis, and the world, from irreversible devastation.
It’s already difficult to organize a wedding – especially one that features squabbling families, a bride and groom who are starting to wonder whether they really want to get hitched, and all the little extra details that go into the day.
And it’s even tougher when the glitzy affair is crashed by pirates, who proceed to take the various relatives and other guests hostage, leaving the couple to save the day.
The mix of romance, comedy and action comes courtesy of Jason Moore, who made the first ‘Pitch Perfect’ and here is working from a script by Mark Hammer.
‘Shotgun Wedding’s story follows Darcy (Lopez) and Tom (Duhamel), who gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begin to get cold feet.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is held at gunpoint.
“’Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones — if they don’t kill each other first.
On its way through development to the altar, the movie itself also has been through some wobbles. It was announced back in 2019 as a project to star Ryan Reynolds.
“I haven’t done a romantic comedy since ‘The Proposal’ but I just fell in love with Shotgun Wedding,” said Reynolds at the time. “It’s so refreshing and surprising. I can’t wait to bring it to life with Jason, Todd, Dave and the great team at Lionsgate.”
Yeah… except he did wait and then dropped it altogether (though remains attached as a producer).
(L to R) Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler and Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
Still, the filmmakers pushed onwards and ended up with the seemingly perfect combo of Lopez and Armie Hammer. Who, if anyone has ready anything about him in the intervening years knows, didn’t stick around.
It all appears to be a fun comedy/action/romance romp, full of J.Lo taking charge and the supporting cast helping the lead pair bring the funny. Plus the movie doesn’t slack on the action quotient either.
And who knows? Maybe Reynolds pops up for a tiny cameo, dropping some Aviation Gin off at the ceremony for the guests to enjoy.
RSVP with your choice of chicken, fish or a hand grenade sandwich to Prime Video, where the movie will launch on January 27th.
(L to R) Cheech Marin as Robert Rivera and Lenny Kravitz as Sean Hawkins in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.(L to R) D’Arcy Carden as Harriet and Cheech Marin as Robert Rivera in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel star in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
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The actor has signed on to star in and produce the upcoming action-comedy, Deadline reports. He’ll work with Jason Moore (“Pitch Perfect”), who will direct from a script by Mark Hammer and Liz Meriwether.
The film centers on a couple whose destination is interrupted by the arrival of criminals (hence the film’s title). The bride and groom then have to save their families, and in doing so, they learn more about their relationship. Reynold’s leading lady hasn’t been cast yet.
It will be the actor’s first romantic comedy since 2009’s “The Proposal,” as he pointed out. He said he “just fell in love” with the film and described it as “so refreshing and surprising.” Meanwhile, fellow producers Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman sang Reynold’s praises, calling him “a rare actor who can do it all.”
Reynolds has certainly built up quite the resume over the years. He has starred in films such as “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Life,” and both Deadpool movies, among many others. His upcoming films include “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” and “Six Underground.”
“Shotgun Wedding” comes from Lionsgate, Mandeville Films, and Maximum Effort. Alex Young of Mandeville will executive produce alongside Maximum Effort’s George Dewey. James Myers and Brady Fujikawa will oversee the project for Lionsgate.
