BIG MOMMAS: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
A serviceable undercover comedy best saved for home viewing.
Should You Watch It?
This is a serviceable comedy with some funny and suspenseful moments, but its entertainment value is limited. The film’s strongest material involves personal responsibility, justice, protecting innocent people, and a father and son growing closer.
The cost is a steady stream of mostly light foul language and some sexual innuendo. Trent is also preoccupied with the attractive girls around him, and the undercover premise brings cross-dressing into the comedy. Those elements may make this a poor fit for a family movie night, especially with younger children.
You do not need to rule it out entirely. For teenagers and adults who can exercise discernment, it may offer some positive themes at home, where you can control the experience. The practical answer: wait for home and use your judgment.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESFBI agent Malcolm Turner once again goes undercover as Big Momma. This time, he is protecting his stepson, Trent, who witnessed a Russian gangster kill Malcolm’s informant.
Malcolm hides as Big Momma, while Trent disguises himself as Big Momma’s niece, Charmaine, at a teenage girls’ art school in Atlanta. As Malcolm searches for a flash drive containing the gangster’s secrets, Trent struggles to keep a low profile while pursuing his own ambitions and becoming attracted to a fellow student.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means this is a serviceable comedy rather than a standout one. It has some funny, suspenseful moments, and the undercover setup provides opportunities for broad comic situations.
The film could be a lot better, however. Its comedy is broad, and the story has to balance the criminal pursuit with Trent’s school life and romantic interest. The positive father-son material gives the movie some substance, but the overall result remains uneven.
The Worldview
The movie presents a generally strong moral worldview through its emphasis on personal responsibility, closer father-son relationships, bringing criminals to justice, protecting innocent civilians, and serving the FBI in a positive light. Malcolm wants Trent to attend Duke University, while Trent wants to enter the rap music profession immediately. The story resolves that conflict positively, honoring both education and Trent’s desires while bringing father and son closer.
The film also includes a positive reference to Jesus and another borderline reference. Its moral concerns are presented within a comical setting that includes cross-dressing, romantic interest in attractive girls, and sexualized humor. Those comic choices can distract from the film’s better convictions.
The movie’s longing for responsible family relationships aligns with Scripture’s call to honor and guide one’s family. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview overall with one positive reference to Jesus and one more borderline reference, marred by plenty of relatively light foul language in a comical context and some light sexual/romantic interest in pretty girls and their charms, including movie extols personal responsibility, making stronger father-son relationships, stopping and catching criminals, protecting innocent civilians from said criminals, justice, and working for the American FBI seen in a positive light, but in a comical context, with cross-dressing; 28 obscenities, one light profanity, one character says “Sweet Jesus,” and another character says, “Thank you, Jesus”; some light comic and action violence such as man shot to death off screen, chases, gangsters shoot at FBI agent and his son, gangsters chase people, gangsters point guns and threaten to kill more people, man takes pratfall into an empty tub, teenage girl slaps teenage boy, man in fat suit falls on table and breaks it, ballet exercise calls for fat girl to sit on back of another girl while she’s doing a stretching exercise; some comical sexual innuendo and lewd comments; no nudity but woman in bra, female cleavage and man with a fat woman suit poses naked under a sheet for an art class; alcohol use; no smoking or drug use but high school senior dressed as a girl lies about an ex-boyfriend arrested for dealing; and, lying, stealing, gangsters.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Malcolm and Trent disagree about college and entering the rap music profession. How can parents and teenagers discuss competing dreams with honesty and respect?
Proverbs 15:1 · Ephesians 6:4The film values personal responsibility. What responsibilities do you have toward your family and community, even when doing the right thing is difficult?
Galatians 6:5 · Philippians 2:4Malcolm and Trent develop a closer relationship. What helps a father and son build trust after conflict?
Proverbs 20:7 · Colossians 3:21The story centers on stopping criminals and protecting innocent people. What does Scripture teach about justice and defending others?
Micah 6:8 · Proverbs 31:8–9The Final Word
This broad comedy offers positive themes about responsibility, justice, and father-son bonds, but its language, sexual innuendo, and cross-dressing make it better suited to discerning teenagers and adults at home. Our answer is WAIT FOR HOME. For cleaner family viewing, explore.
