The Mother (2023)

My quick rating - 5.5/10. Why take the bulletproof vest off? A question I asked myself during the movie. The Mother is a fast-moving action thriller about a highly trained assassin who crawls out of hiding to protect the daughter she abandoned years earlier. Naturally, this emotional reunion happens while being chased by extremely motivated bad guys who seem to have unlimited ammo, funding, and free time.

Jennifer Lopez plays the titular Mother, and to her credit, she commits fully to the role. She looks convincing in the action scenes, handles the physical demands well, and sells the idea that this woman has survived years of brutal work without flinching. Emotionally, though, she operates in full survival mode, which makes the mother-daughter bonding feel less like a heartfelt reunion and more like an extended hostage extraction.

This film keeps a quick pace going, never allowing too much lag in the suspense. There is a constant reminder that there is always someone on the list chasing, shooting, or getting ready to chase and shoot some more. There is a perfect amount of gun battles as well as fight scenes to keep any fan entertained, though nothing within it is revolutionary.

One area where The Mother absolutely shows off is its scenery. The film jumps between gorgeous locations that look ripped straight out of a travel brochure for “places you definitely shouldn’t raise a child.” The snowy landscapes and wide outdoor shots add a lot of visual polish and help distract from the fact that you’ve probably seen this exact movie before… just with a different actor holding the gun.

Where the film starts to wobble is in its logic. Character decisions can be baffling, none more so than the moment where a bulletproof vest gets removed for reasons known only to the screenwriter and maybe a mild concussion. Moments like that pull you right out of the film and make you question whether self-preservation was optional in this universe.

Story-wise, the plot sticks firmly to a familiar action-thriller formula. You can usually guess what’s coming several scenes ahead, which drains some of the suspense. While the action does its job, the narrative never really surprises you or pushes beyond safe, well-worn territory.

In the end, The Mother delivers a perfectly watchable action experience. Jennifer Lopez carries the film well, the scenery looks great, and the action keeps things from getting dull. Just don’t go in expecting anything groundbreaking — this one’s more “efficient weekend watch” than “instant classic.”

Currently streaming on Netflix.

The Mother (2023)

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