Tag: Susan Sarandon

A Bad Moms Christmas

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

There is plenty of guilt to go around in “A Bad Moms Christmas.”

And, in my opinion, that is why the newer generations are dropping out of religion, in general.

This film, brings in the big guns, the grandmothers, played by Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski and Cheryl Hines.

If the mothers thought that other mothers were critical, that pales when compared to their own mothers.

What these grandmothers need to realize is that they need to not only bribe the grandkids, but they should also bribe their own daughters.

Their daughters need their support and goodwill.

And, unless the grandmothers happen to have really good Long Term Care policies in place, they need to have their daughters like them, not compete with them.

The main problem appears to be that the grandmothers do not have lives of their own.

One shows up to sponge, another to compete, and the third grandmother wants to be her daughter.

The standouts of this film for me were Susan Sarandon as Carla’s (Kathryn Hahn) hippy mom and Wanda Sykes as Kiki’s (Kristen Bell) psychiatrist.

Mila Kunis should never have agreed to let her mother, or the directors (Jon Lucas and Scott Moore) of this film, talk her into wearing that ridiculous nose while caroling.

What may work for guys in a Hangover film, does not translate well for a woman in a female role. It is just not funny.

I did like this film, and cried happy tears at its ending.

Mothers, make even the undertaker sorry to see you go.

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11/13/2017 # A Bad Moms Christmas

The Meddler, Susan and Simmons

Susan Sarandon rides with J.K. Simmons.

The Meddler, Susan and Rose

Lori (Rose Byrne) is uncomfortable with mom’s help.

THE MEDDLER

By Marlene Ardoin

Susan Sarandon, as Marnie, is more of a fairy god-mother, than a meddler. A good meddler’s motivation comes from a place of love, and a bad meddler comes from a place of criticism or envy. Marnie is a good meddler.

We get a step by step how-to-get-over the death of a doting husband. Marnie’s husband has made sure that she has more than enough to survive on her own, but Marnie is a natural giver. And, now we know the secret of a great marriage, two-way, great giving.

Marnie relocates from the east coast New York area to the west coast Los Angeles area.

What is so delightful about this film is watching Marnie gradually open to a new way of life, new friends, and learning how to fill the void of her recent solo life. Anyone who crosses her path is sure to feel the force of her great big heart.

At first, her daughter, Lori (Rose Byrne), is uncomfortable with her presence, but when mom gradually builds a new life for herself, the tables turn as Lori begins to miss her mother’s unconditional support and love.

Marnie’s god-mother recipients include an elderly woman in the hospital who is unable to speak, a young black boy in a computer store who shows her how to use the new phone, a lesbian couple who have a young daughter, and a divorced cop (J.K. Simmons) who gets his chickens to lay eggs by playing them music.

We also get treated to watching her open herself to the possibility of male attention. She clearly knows the difference between love and lust. The demonstrations of both are humorously presented.

This is a warm-hearted story.

As a group of elderly, middle-class females were leaving the showing, I overheard them wondering if the lesbian couple had any lesbian friends? I hope that is not the only takeaway that they got from this movie.

7/11/16 # The Meddler