Big Momma’s House 2 parents guide

Big Momma’s House 2 Parent Guide

Overall C+

In this sequel, Martin Lawrence reprises his roll as the cross-dressing FBI agent Malcolm Turner. This time he dons his Big Momma latex costume in order to investigate the death of his former partner.

Release date January 26, 2006

Violence B-
Sexual Content C+
Profanity B-
Substance Use B-

Why is Big Momma’s House 2 rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Big Momma’s House 2 PG-13 for some sexual humor and a humorous drug reference

Run Time: 99 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Is it a continuation of the bathroom humor and sexual innuendo of the first movie? Or is it a family comedy?

These are questions that should have been asked by the executives bankrolling this film. Yet, considering the studio’s reluctance to provide critics with pre-screenings, and the fact the film grossed over $20 million on its opening weekend, Big Momma’s House 2 has already done the job it was sent to your local theater to accomplish. In short order, it will be a shiny DVD, anxious to make some big momma dollars in its home video life. However, these two questions are very important from a parenting point of view because this movie presents a classic example of creators failing to understand family audiences.

Like the original House movie from 2000, this outing features Martin Lawrence playing FBI agent Malcolm Turner. Now married to Sherry (Nia Long), who we met in the first film, he has taken on a much safer desk job in the agency’s PR department. Yet when he hears his former partner has been killed, Turner can’t stop himself from getting into the action. Going against the orders of both his superior and wife, he drags Big Momma out from under the bed, and sets off to crack the case.

Donning the bulky latex costume, he (she) shows up at the Fuller residence, home of the primary suspect, Tom Fuller (Mark Moses). Fortunately, Tom’s wife Leah (Emily Procter) is interviewing for a nanny to care for her three children, and Big Momma bulldozes her way through the application process. Of course, he/she is hired, but soon discovers this gig isn’t just about police work. To be convincing as Big Momma, he’s faced with juggling music lessons, meals, laundry, and dirty diapers with a trio of kids ranging from tender toddler to trying teen.

Where this sequel departs from its parent is in its general tone, which is now written and delivered in a way most akin to an eight-year-old’s mentality. Contrived moments allow Lawrence’s stuffed character to clown it up when he helps the middle-school daughter learn some new cheerleading moves, as well as providing some sensitive family time when the teen daughter discovers Big Momma knows a few things about boys. Not bad fodder for families.

However, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the script switches personalities faster than Lawrence can get in and out of his fat suit (which is, quite literally, unbelievably fast). The film opens with a body being dumped into a river and later shows another suspect graphically falling to his death. Also, many sexual comments from various characters are heard. However, the scene most probably to have parents scrambling to take young viewers to the concession stand is a day at the spa. While there, Big Momma excitedly verbalizes his love of watching women lying around naked (we see them in towels) and is asked by one pathetic patron to undo her front-closing bra because her nail polish is wet.

Teeter-tottering between PG and PG-13, Big Momma’s House 2 will likely disappoint because it is too juvenile for adults seeking Lawrence’s humor, and too adult for families with juveniles.

Starring Martin Lawrence, Nia Long, Emily Procter. Running time: 99 minutes. Theatrical release January 26, 2006. Updated

Big Momma’s House 2
Rating & Content Info

Why is Big Momma’s House 2 rated PG-13? Big Momma’s House 2 is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some sexual humor and a humorous drug reference

The plot deals with a murder, which results in a corpse being dumped into a river. Later a character jumps and his body is shown bouncing off of objects he hits as he falls. Bathroom humor and sexual remarks are included, and an extended scene at a day spa has Big Momma happily discussing sexual topics with a room full of women (identified as Victoria’s Secret models) dressed in towels. One of these women asks if Big Momma can undo her bra because her nail polish is wet, but Big Momma gets flustered and leaves. Infrequent profanities are limited to mild expletives and terms of deity. A dog is fed Tequila on a couple of occasions.

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Big Momma’s House 2 Parents' Guide

The children in this film are portrayed as unable to get enough time with their parents. Why do you think situations like these are so often depicted in movies? Do you think hiring a nanny would make their problem better or worse? What solutions might you suggest?

This movie includes a stunt scene involving a Segway Human Transporter. For more information on this usual device, check segway.com.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Big Momma’s House 2 movie is May 8, 2006. Here are some details…

DVD Release Date: 9 May 2006

You can check out the references on this baby-sitter by watching the Bonus Features on the DVD release of Big Momma’s House 2. They include an audio commentary by director John Whitsell, producer David Friendly and actor Zachary Livi, 12 deleted and extended scenes (with optional commentary) and a Big Momma’s Secrets featurette. And just in case you want to see all of Martin Lawrence’s character, the movie is presented in both Wide and Full Screen. Audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Surround 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Surround), and French (Dolby Surround), with subtitles in English and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

Vin Diesel plays another undercover cop who finds out what it takes to be a nanny in The Pacifier. Martin Lawrence takes on the role of a basketball coach forced to work with a rag tag junior high school team in the movie Rebound.