There’s no shortage of movies that tackle the theme of motherhood. And here at Plugged In, we’ve reviewed a fair few of them. But not all of them would be ideal for a family watch party—such as 2017’s Mother!.
So what would be a good option for a Mother’s Day movie night?
To help me put together some viable options, I called up my mom. I asked her about the kinds of things she likes to see in a movie. True to form, her answers were succinct. (My dad and I are only half-joking when we tell her she could be an efficiency consultant.) But here are the criteria she gave to me:
One, the movie should be lighthearted and funny.
Two, a little mystery is nice to keep things interesting.
Three, the film should be clean and avoid bad language.
And four, if the movie is about motherhood, the mom onscreen should ultimately be shown as loving, caring and connected.
So, with those criteria in mind, here are four “mom-approved” movies we think you might enjoying sharing with your mom this Mother’s Day.
Lighthearted & Funny: Brave
Pixar has crafted some stellar films in the past. And while 2012’s Brave might not be its most lauded feature, it still tells a heartfelt (and often humorous) story about a mother and a daughter.
“Elinor and Merida wind up risking their lives for each other,” writes Paul Asay in his review of the film, “and their contentious-but-beautiful bond mimics, in its own surreal way, many a mother-daughter relationship. … Those teen years can be difficult in many households. Brave doesn’t tell us otherwise. But it asks us to remember that when you strip away all the differences and all the hurt, the bond between mother and daughter is a thing of transcendent beauty.”
A Little Mystery: Lion
Lion tells the story of Saroo, a young boy who was tragically separated from his family at a young age. Even though he has found loving, adoptive parents, he still has questions about his biological family—questions only they can answer. Saroo’s search for his birth family fulfills the “mystery quotient” here, but the film also presents an incredible portrait of an adoptive family’s love for their son.
As Paul Asay said in his review, “Lion is a gripping, moving, inspiring film that’s high in heart and relatively low in content. … And in so doing, they inspire those who watch their stories unfold.”
As Bob Hoose notes in his review of Moms’ Night Out, the “night-out gone bad” story concept is nothing new. But the film delivers on that concept with aplomb, providing a “chuckle-worthy time … while keeping sweet thoughts of the kids right there at the heart of things.”
Moreover, the film does this while avoiding crass content and profanity. As Bob puts it, Moms’ Night Out delivers “a pratfall-filled night of calamity that’s a refreshingly clean take on the cinematic chestnut.”
Loving, Caring and Connected: The Wild Robot
Plugged In Movie Award winner for Best Movie for Adults, The Wild Robot, tells a powerful story about the joys and responsibilities of motherhood. Based on the Peter Brown novel of the same name, the film follows a robot named Roz, who gets stranded on an uninhabited island and eventually adopts a newborn gosling—filling the role of his loving, caring and connected mom.
“[The film’s] narrative wraps all of its artistic and technical excellence around a warm, beating core,” Paul Asay writes in his review. “The Wild Robot is a good story—one that may have you smiling as you blink away a tear or two.”
Through its beautifully rendered artistic storytelling, The Wild Robot touches on a vast array of parental emotions. And the story touches on a point that mothers around the world have felt as well: Nothing is more painful. Nothing is harder. Nothing is more beautiful. And I’d never, ever trade it for anything.
Let us know your favorite mom-focused films in the comments below. And have a happy Mother’s Day!
