Mama

I think there might be a good movie somewhere deep inside Mama, however, this finished product is certainly not it. Up until this point, Jessica Chastain's career has been flawless. I went to see this movie even though it looked ridiculous and cliche because I thought, maybe, just maybe, it might be interesting. After all, Chastain has made absolutely great choices up until this point. After seeing Mama, I have to ask - Why, Jessica, why??

Mama begins with two small girls whose parents die and they find themselves living in an abandoned cabin in the woods by themselves for five years. They turn feral and manage to survive because they have a protector looking over them named Mama. After five years, the children are found and go to live with their uncle (Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau)and his punk rocker chick girlfriend (Jessica Chastain, hence the short black wig). The girls are deeply disturbed and struggle to fit in with day to day life. Oh, and they may or may not have brought back Mama, a mysterious ghost like creature who wants to protect them, but also, sometimes, when the plot needs an extra boost, kill them.

The interesting part of Mama is the psychological study of these little girls. If the movie had delved more into that aspect, having Mama be some sort of creation of their pscyhe instead of stupid ghost, then Mama may have been an intriguing movie. But instead, the creative team went for cheap scares and a super ridiculous ending (like, probably the worst ending in the history of movie endings). Mama is not good. It's nonsense and ridiculousness and changing the intentions of the character Mama to meet the scripts needs every so often. The "scares" are cheap and pathetic. The characters are one dimensional. The only saving grace is Jessica Chastain, who is such a good actress that she tries to her damn best to make due with a terrible situation. She doesn't succeed at all, but at least someone in this huge mess of a movie is trying.

Mostly though, Mama is the first bad movie of 2013. My 2013 started off on a disappointing note and I've already got a contender for worst movie of the year.

Grade: D