Though I haven't seen all of Albert Brooks' films, this is definitely my favorite, so far. Written and directed by Brooks, he's made a movie that is relatable to just about everyone. Brooks stars as a struggling writer who, after just completing his second divorce, decides to move back home and examine his relationship with his mother (Debbie Reynolds) as an attempt to iron out his love life. The decision is met with confusion by his mother, and jealousy by his brother (the favored son, played by Rob Morrow).Anyone who's ever had a mother can appreciate the frustration Brooks encounters, whether it's his mother's penchant for nervously telling complete strangers about his troubled love life, or her indecisive driving (I can certainly relate, although mine tends toward the reckless). Their relationship is all about pushing each other's buttons; Mother as she picks apart everything in his life, and Brooks as he blames her for being the root of his lady problems. A terrific scene (one that sets the tone for all of their scenes to follow) involves Brooks being flabbergasted by his mother's food stock; the wilted lettuce in her salad, the three-year-old block of cheese, the freezer-burnt "sherbert" (housed beneath the "protective ice"). I've never met someone who can't relate to something akin to this, and it's symptomatic of a well-written "slice of life" screenplay. It also doesn't hurt that the two leads are extremely well-cast. Brooks is all about the miserable neurotic, while Reynolds embodies (with radiance) everything about the irritating mom who judges but doesn't listen. And when the two finally discover the root of their dysfunction in the film's climactic scene, it feels entirely heartfelt and not contrived. There's development to Reynolds' character; she's someone well-rounded, with hilarious results.8/10

I watched this movie with an open mind and I came out disappointed. I had never seen a movie try so hard to be funny and really wasn't! I sort of like Brooks but this movie I really didn't care for.Debbie Reynolds did an okay job as Mother. She was quite sexy in a "cougar-type" of way! Ha-ha So it's very believable when her son discovers she occasional meets up with a 'Charles'(Peter White) for occasional sex! Original choice Nancy Reagan would have been interesting casting. But she declined because of her husband's condition at the time.Rob Morrow is the other son. As Brook's brother they seemed to play off each other rather well. Lisa Kudrow appears for a bit as a blind date gone wrong for Brooks. John C McGinley appears also for a bit as Brook's pal trying to console him about his recent divorce. Others that were wasted were: Isabel Glasser as Morrow's wife, Vanessa Williams(Not the singer) as Kudrow's roommate.Joey Naber(Angel Town) had a nice bit as the TV delivery man as did Peter White as Reynold's "occasional" lover.The song by Simon and Garfunkel, 'Mrs. Robinson', was changed to accommodate the words and storyline of this movie by Brooks. Now called "Mrs. Henderson".

Albert Brooks certainly runs hot ("Lost In America", "Defending Your Life") and cold (just about everything else). "Mother" combines bits of his quirky, low-key style with his more commercial impulses, but the results aren't especially funny or convincing or involving. Brooks as an actor is again right on the money playing a writer with female troubles who moves back in with his mom to find out where he went wrong in life. Debbie Reynolds is just right as his middle-aged mother who freezes everything except the Saltines. But this premise is dubious. It only passes in the film because Brooks rationalizes its merits, but it makes no sense on a realistic level. On the other hand, there are many quirky character traits that viewers will be able to relate to. It's a mixed bag, but is finally handicapped by a condescending dinner scene with Lisa Kudrow (typecast as a ditz) and also by Rob Morrow's irritating performance as Brooks' wishy-washy brother (not to mention a rewrite/remake of Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" that verges on sacrilege). A one-joke affair. ** from ****

Albert's Brooks' comedy 'Mother' is frequently hilarious, with some cracking dialogue, and highly perceptive: few viewers will fail to recognise some aspect of their relationships with their family in its portrayal of its eponymous central character and her middle-aged son, played by Brooks himself. But in taking their interaction as its principal subject, instead of using it as a backdrop to a wider story, the film chooses to pursue limited ambitions, and there's a level of contrivance necessary to support this narrow focus: while, at a micro-level, the film is perfect, the overall plot makes less sense, and the ending is a little pat. Not a great film; but one guaranteed to make you smile.