Momma’s Man – DVD Review

Had Momma’s Man been churned out by the Hollywood system, it’s safe to say that it’d be a star vehicle for Will Ferrell in which he acts inappropriately juvenile. Afterall, there’s a scene in the film where a grown man begins singing lyrics he wrote in high school – every other word is a swear, and it consists of him dissecting just how much he hates a lover. There’s something different, however, in this film by independent filmmaker Azazel Jacobs, that all of these “manchild” films lack. It doesn’t point out a “failure to launch” as a sign of being a complete loser – rather, it suggests, we’re all barnacles to our parent’s homes: horrified, overwhelmed, and unsure about the untreaded waters abroad. If you’ve ever flipped through an old diary, yearbook, or your favorite childhood comic book, Momma’s Man will feel as close to you as any movie ever has.

Mikey (Matt Boren) is home in New York visiting his parents (Flo & Ken Jacobs, the parents of the director). He now lives in Los Angeles, where he’s married to a beautiful wife (Dana Varon) with whom he has a daughter. As the film starts, Mikey is just about to head back home, but something stops him. He can’t pull himself to step into the airport, and he turns back and comes up with an excuse regarding a ticket mishap that’ll allow him to stay an extra night at home. Although he initially suggests he’ll be leaving the next day, days turn into weeks as Mikey digs through his childhood treasures at home.

Jacobs has such a rush of nostalgia that he tracks down some old buddies, apologizes to his girlfriend from Sophomore year after a bad breakup, and shouts with glee when he recalls his favorite Garbage Pail Kids trading card. As the days pass by, however, his wife leaves more and more nervous messages on his phone. His parents sense that something isn’t right. Everytime he attempts to walk out the door, he can’t even bring himself to take the first step downstairs towards the street. 

The film deals with the hardships of moving on, the romantization of our childhood, and the connections between parents and children. It’s told in a subtle elegance – very quiet and methodical, yet never uninteresting. Most film teachers will argue that films are “life with the boring parts cut out”, whereas a film like Momma’s Boy takes these “boring moments” and examines just how revealing they really are.

Momma’s Man, whether you respond to it’s favorably or not, is a film that you’ll undoubtedly relate to. In fact, the most rewarding thing about watching the film is the memories it spurs when it’s over. It’s funny but never slapstick, tragic yet never hopeless, and straight forward yet remarkably subtle and nuanced. I would suggest giving it a rent at the very least.

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