Director John Waters puts a twist on the everyday mediocrity of suburban life in the hilarious satire Serial Mom. See Kathleen Turner like never before as Beverly Sutphin, the seemingly perfect homemaker who will stop at nothing to rid the neighborhood of anyone failing to live up to her moral code. Featuring a digitally remastered picture and 5.1 surround sound, Serial Mom is a killer comedy that will take you over the edge with laughter!Director John Waters creates here a wickedly funny–and nasty–comedy starring Kathleen Turner as the ultimate suburbanite: a woman so obsessed with suburban perfection that she kills a neighbor for not separating her recyclables. Hubby Sam Waterston and kids Matthew Lillard and Ricki Lake don’t have a clue that in fact it is squeaky-clean mom who is the killer at large in their Baltimore neighborhood and who has murdered, among others, the guy who dumped her daughter. The final courtroom scene is a riot, turning her into a celebrity defendant (long before O.J.) and featuring a terrific cameo by Patty Hearst (yes, that Patty Hearst). Not for the squeamish or the easily offended, Waters’s fans will find him in classic form. –Marshall Fine Director John Waters creates here a wickedly funny–and nasty–comedy starring Kathleen Turner as the ultimate suburbanite: a woman so obsessed with suburban perfection that she kills a neighbor for not separating her recyclables. Hubby Sam Waterston and kids Matthew Lillard and Ricki Lake don’t have a clue that in fact it is squeaky-clean mom who is the killer at large in their Baltimore neighborhood and who has murdered, among others, the guy who dumped her daughter. The final courtroom scene is a riot, turning her into a celebrity defendant (long before O.J.) and featuring a terrific cameo by Patty Hearst (yes, that Patty Hearst). Not for the squeamish or the easily offended, Waters’s fans will find him in classic form. –Marshall Fine
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March 8, 2010
#1
Although it held together (sort of), I did not find many of the scenes in this movie funny. I could not understand all the rave reviews – basically, it’s largely unfunny. This movie gives a feeling of tension throughout – I wondered while watching it if “Serial Mom” Kathleen Turner was actually playing the part of a gay man in a woman’s body. Who else would care if someone wore white after Labor Day? Siskell and Ebert gave this one a minimal number of stars, and for good reason. Watch it together with a Margaret Cho video if you want to be totally bored out of your mind with bad humor and edgy neurosis.
March 8, 2010
#2
This movie stunk and there is not much more to say about this piece of garbage…not worth the time.
March 8, 2010
#3
Let’s just get down to the ‘real’ meaning of said title: Oedipus! All the elements are prevalent; i.e., said masturbation of main character (Scotty), fascination with the Mother veil/title. Disregard of the Father’s attention to the actual reality of the events that followed. Historically, Oedipus (if you didn’t know) was shunned by “his” father figure, and forced internally to distort “his” view of familial life as that of a plaything; which Mrs. Sutphin shows us unequivocally. Symbolically the liver scene shall reveal the utter disdain of human life as seen by the “Mother” figure. This sordid tale has been told countless times in folklore and myth, however, is cemented here in a brilliantly subtle and comidic manner. If you’ve no knowledge/experience of the Oedipul instinx of humankind then this movie will not entertain you. If you are content to see beyond said complexes; then this triumphant film shall be a bookend in your library. Overview: Life can be good as a murderer if you have the perception of being on the side of the Greater good; and Life can be a purgatory if you are associated with a Loved one who maims. This film is not for the “Forrest Gump” crowd.
March 8, 2010
#4
I love John Waters, but in this one he is out of control and as a result, the movie is a mess!
March 8, 2010
#5
I saw ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Cry Baby’, and am rather befuddled as to how Waters could make a film such as this one. Sure, its funny, and has its’ share of gratuitous ‘funny’ homicide, but Kathleen Turner as the Serial Mom is an utter failure. It just doesn’t work, right from the opening frames. I spent the entire course of the film wondering who else could have played the role better, when I noticed that it had gotten over. Ah well. No big loss.