Brilliant and touching

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

So this is a black version of Mrs Doubtfire 7 years later with then-on form funny-man Martin Lawrence in a crime-type intrigue rather than purely family related like the aforementioned Robin Williams starring comedy.Two major concerns: if you're going to be a copycat of another film in spirit, you might as well make it really funny to compensate for stealing the idea. This isn't very funny. You could be very lenient and willing to laugh but it just isn't there as the creators focused more on the plot - which is functional but not impressive in any way.The second thing is flaws like introducing Martin Lawrence's character (FBI, not Big Momma) way too hastily into that female lead character's life and her kid's. It's a major fault with Hollywood comedies, that they'll produce by the numbers disposable comedy and sell it like buns at the bakery, and don't focus nearly enough attention on story structure and development of characters' relationships, so this is just ridiculously rushed and completely completely fictional even in the part that's supposed to be realistic.It's not boring to watch, but way too rushed and facile.A generous 3/10.

Big Momma's House (2000): Dir: Raja Gosnell / Cast: Martin Lawrence, Paul Giamatti, Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson: A preview of what has been done before. Perhaps the best examples are Some Like It Hot and Tootsie. Title indicates authority as Martin Lawrence as a cop disguises himself as an overweight black woman in order to question a suspect. The real Big Momma has a sudden emergency leaving Lawrence and his partner to bug the house and stake out across the street. They await Nia Long who is fleeing from her boyfriend, an escape convict. Obvious outcome with pitiful comic situations such as the wig falling off Lawrence's head and every other woman apparently having wigs as well. Poor comic timing by director Raja Gosnell who made the superior yet formula driven Never Been Kissed the previous year. What he creates here is less entertaining than a hair gel commercial. Lawrence doesn't look like a female and his voice impersonation is over the top. Paul Giamatti as his partner is a waste. Nia Long is the standard damsel there for one reason and that is to be a potential romantic interest to Lawrence. Terrence Howard plays the criminal. The performance is standard fare with no depth and serves only as someone Lawrence will save Long from. Anthony Anderson plays a moron security guard. Pointless recycled dreck becomes a big free-for-all. Score: 1 / 10

Big Momma's House is directed by Raja Gosnell, written by Darryl Quarles and Don Rhymer, and stars Martin Lawrence, Paul Giamatti, Nia Long & Terrance Howard. Lawrence plays FBI Agent Malcolm Turner who goes undercover as "Big Momma" Hattie Mae Pierce (Ella Mitchell), so as to hopefully snare escaped convict Lester Vesco (Howard). "Big Momma" is the aunt of Vesco's ex-wife, Sherry (Long), who is on her way to "Big Momma's" to hide out after hearing of Lester's escape.In spite of baffling critics-and not finding many casual film viewers willing to say they enjoyed it! the film was a surprise hit and opened as the number two movie in North America. It went on to gross over $117 million at the box office and subsequently ensured that a sequel would follow down the line (it arrived in 2006). The film isn't pretending to be anything other than the mindless comedy it is. If viewed on those terms then it can be enjoyed. Sure some of the gags are puerile, and Lawrence is an acquired taste, tho his energy and comedy timing are first rate here. But it does work to a degree. It's been done better in the likes of Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire, and the plot, with it's boorish romantic strand, is merely an excuse for "Big Momma" to get into daft scrapes. Yet the action is nicely staged and the pace of the piece never sags. There's also fun to be had in watching Giamatti & Howard looking like they just know they should be doing better stuff than this!.Forgettable juvenile fluff for sure, but likable enough; in that brain at the door-bucket of popcorn-way. 6/10

Sure Big Momma's House has the over-exaggerated characters, the typical modern crude humor and predictable plot - but I found the execution of the movie spot-on. It's got a very similar aspect as Mrs.Doubtfire, I think you can guess what that is, but despite the predictability, no character development and just mild dialog, I found the movie rather enjoyable because on how funny and well executed Martin Lauren's performance was. It's got all the same elements on the typical modern comedy, whether it'd be its crude humor, dialog or appeals but my opinion contracts it as a great comedy, that could easily be enjoyable on the same level of multiple viewings. It's very funny, got a good ending and also the little sad bit, a recommendation for every Comedy fan who wants a laugh but expect nothing special.