Big Momma’s House ** (2000, Martin Lawrence, Nia Long, Paul Giamatti, Terrence Howard) Classic Movie Review 10,610

Director Raja Gosnell’s 2000 crime comedy Big Momma’s House stars Martin Lawrence, who plays FBI agent Malcolm Turner, forced to disguise himself as a zany grandma to catch an escaped crook, Lester Vesco (Terrence Howard), who has stolen $2 million.

Lawrence and his partner (Paul Giamatti)’s best lead is the man’s ex-wife, Sherry Pierce (Nia Long), who is about to show up in Georgia, where her estranged grandmother lives. But, as grannie is detained elsewhere, the Bureau dresses up Lawrence as the flatulent fat lady.

There is great make-up as Big Momma takes her place in the Mrs Doubtfire category, but, thanks to a silly script, this is a flabby, unconvincing and largely charmless over-broad comedy. However, the likeable setup, some obvious big laughs and Lawrence’s genial performance save it. Ella Mitchell is amusing as the real Big Momma grannie, who, of course, turns up again to confront Lawrence.

The  screenplay is by Darryl Quarles and Don Rhymer, from a story by Darryl Quarles.

Paul Giamatti in Big Momma’s House (2000).

Also in the cast are Terrence Howard [Terrence Dashon Howard], Paul Giamatti, Jascha Washington, Ella Mitchell, Anthony Anderson, Carl Wright, Phyllis Applegate, Starletta DuPois, Jessie Mae Holmes, Nicole Prescott, Octavia Spencer [Octavia L Spencer], Tichina Arnold, Cedric the Entertainer and Philip Tan.

The British cert 12 is a cut version. Four scenes fight sequences are cut, for head-buts or kicks, for a total of eight seconds.

It cost $30,000,000 and went on to gross more than $173 million at the box office.

Big Momma’s House 2 (2006) followed.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,610

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