"Mother's Boys" is another one of those 90s movies which jumped on the suspense bandwagon with a story about an estranged mother who will do what ever it takes to get her family back. Okay so far so good and it has to be said the cast isn't bad either with Peter Gallagher, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer and Jamie Lee Curtis all in central roles. Except whilst "Mother's Boys" may have a good cast and the basis of a good thriller it ends up dull, less than suspenseful and ultimately all a little daft as it heads off to a land of major contrivances.

Having disappeared for 3 years, Jude Madigan (Jamie Lee Curtis - My Girl 2) decides to return when she learns that her estranged husband, Robert (Peter Gallagher - Malice), wants a divorce and is dating Callie Harland (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) the assistant Principal at their children's school. Determined to not only keep hold of her boys but also Robert, Jude sets about destroying their lives by manipulating the emotions of her eldest son Kes (Luke Edwards) so that he helps her get rid of Callie.

For about the first half of "Mother's Boys" everything works just fine, we get introduced to all the pivotal characters and their situation whilst insinuating that Jude is not the most mentally balanced of people. It's all pretty standard stuff, pepped up by the occasional frog stabbing and an air of slight creepiness as Jude's intentions are made crystal clear. But then it goes completely off the rails as things become more and more contrived tumbling its way to the expected big ending. Fair do's all the important components are put into place, such as Kes learning to drive which at just 12 he's unbelievably good at, so that when the big climax comes it all fits into place even though it's ridiculously daft.

Being overly contrived is not the only issue as whilst there is an almost creepiness to the first half the second is completely devoid of anything close to being suspenseful. It's the same old problem that everything is telegraphed long before it happens. Robert rages at Jude in her apartment, well you know that's been secretly recorded so Jude can use it later on. It's a case of everything is far too obvious even the ending which tries to twist and turn delivering the unpredictable ends up failing as it goes over the top.

Talking of over the top it has to be said that some of the acting borders on the camp. Luke Edwards who plays Kes may have some scary dark eyes but the constant focus on him trying to look menacing ends up causing Edwards to over act, which is made worse by some terrible dialogue which he attempts to deliver. Jamie Lee Curtis, an actress who constantly delivers, for once doesn't as she over eggs the evilness of Jude, going over the top as she tries to find the right level of menacing. And compounding this are what feel like obligatory sexual elements, Jude trying to seduce Robert, walking around half naked in a revealing gown or even the extreme of standing there naked in front of Kes showing the caesarean scar which symbolises their supposed unique bond. It feels both very wrong and thrown in because it's what was expected of an early 90s thriller.

Thankfully the acting is not all over the top and whilst Peter Gallagher does an adequate turn as the trouble father and estranged husband, it is Joanne Whalley-Kilmer who delivers the most convincing performance. She finds the right balance of emotion as Robert's girlfriend, caught in the middle of the crossfire as Jude returns and sets about destroying her and her relationship with both Robert and the children. And although it's only a small part Vanessa Redgrave is as you would expect solid as Jude's mother Lydia.

One thing which does impress about "Mother's Boys" is that it looks great. The storyline may not be up to much, the ending may be contrived as hell but right from the opening credits through to the end scenes it is full of wonderful cinematography.

What this all boils down to is that "Mother's Boys" is unfortunately a wasted opportunity to make a decent, suspenseful thriller with a good cast. The storyline in itself is good, except between ending up coming across as contrived and convoluted as well as some serious over acting "Mother's Boys" ends up quite laughable especially the ending which borders on the ridiculous as it searches for that missing tension and adrenalin.