Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Three generations come together in the week leading up to Mother's Day.
Mother's Day (2016) is the third entry in Garry Marshall's holiday-themed ensemble anthology series, following Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve. It follows the same formulaic intersecting-storylines template with little variation, making it one of the least distinctive entries in an already derivative franchise. The plot weaves together predictable arcs — reconciling exes, estranged family members, and feel-good revelations — that resolve with little surprise. The ensemble cast (Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis) performs competently but without notable depth given the thin material. Cinematography is workmanlike at best, shot in a flat, TV-movie style typical of these productions. Novelty is genuinely low — it recycles its own franchise formula nearly beat for beat. The ending is saccharine and telegraphed, consistent with the rest of the film's approach.