Big Momma's House 2 (2006) starring Martin Lawrence, Nia Long, Emily Procter, Zachary Levi, Mark Moses, Kat Dennings, Chloë Grace Moretz directed by John Whitesell Movie Review

Big Momma's House 2 (2006)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Martin Lawrence as Big Momma in Big Momma's House 2 (2006)

Big Momma Doubtfire

"Big Momma's House 2" is the sort of movie which proves that film making has become less about entertainment and more about profit because whilst not the worst movie ever made it certainly isn't good. But then from the studio's point of view it doesn't have to be good because having entertained people with "Big Momma's House" they know they have an audience who will return for the second one. As such "Big Momma's House 2" is a movie which cobbles together a weak storyline and fills it with the humour which people loved from the first movie so basically Martin Lawrence in the fat suit in some unlikely situations.

FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence - Bad Boys II) goes back undercover as Big Momma when his former partner is killed in action. The case is to track down the creator of a deadly computer virus but the only way that Malcolm can do so is by getting the job as a nanny in the Fuller residence. That means not only is Malcolm trying to spy on Tom Fuller (Mark Moses) but he has to discover how to look after children. To make matter worse, having married Sherri (Nia Long) and got her pregnant she is suspicious of what Malcolm is up to especially as he lied to her about where he was going.

Kat Dennings as Molly in Big Momma's House 2 (2006)

So when it comes to story "Big Momma's House 2" plays it slim, slimmer than in the first movie with Malcolm taking it upon himself to go undercover as Big Momma as a nanny in the Fuller residence. Why? Well to be honest that doesn't really matter and the whole plot of Tom Fuller being involved in some sort of computer virus is not even worth following. The real reason for this is firstly so we have Big Mamma doing a "Mrs. Doubtfire" when it comes to looking after children and secondly to cause Sherri to become suspicious of what Malcolm is up to. That is it, this story is purely a vehicle for comedy and nothing else, which to be honest you kind of expect.

So as to that comedy well there is a lot of it and the majority of it revolves around Malcolm as Big Momma in a variety of supposedly funny situations. We get jokes about Big Momma doing house work, dealing with young children, a depressed dog and even going to a spa. I could go on because "Big Momma's House 2" is literally one joke after another after another. But whilst some of these jokes work the majority of them don't or at least won't make anyone over the age of 25 laugh. In fact at times it feels quite uninspired as you can see a joke coming before it is even delivered.

Acting wise well there is nothing to write home about at all with Martin Lawrence delivering the same level of fun he did the first time. Actually I tell a lie because there is one performance which made me smile and that is seeing Kat Dennings playing a moody teen, delivering attitude at every opportunity. But that is as good as the performances get and even Mark Moses looking like a young Charles Grodin adds little to things.

What this all boils down to is that "Big Momma's House 2" is basically a studio squeezing a product for all the money it can make and so whilst not terrible it is inferior to the first movie. There will be those who enjoy the non stop humour but for me it is a case that more jokes fail than work.


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