andresrueda
A few years ago, I rated this a 9. But now, as time passes by, I give this a 10. Not only it brings back memories, but makes me laugh, like I did (a few) many years ago.Kathleen Turner's work in here is unique, and very impressive, The score is also very very good and Poledouris manages to keep you watching it with plenty of engagement.I was introduced to the fine music of Barry Manilow with this movie, and I'm very thankful for that.
Michael_Elliott
Serial Mom (1994)** 1/2 (out of 4) Kathleen Turner plays a sweet and loving mother from Baltimore who takes care of her husband (Sam Waterston) and children (Ricki Lake, Matthew Lillard). What no one realizes is that she's also a psychopath who goes on a murder spree to destroy anyone who doesn't fit into her idea of a good person.John Waters' SERIAL MOM certainly isn't a classic movie and it's not even a good one. Fans of the director will certainly find there to be the sarcasm that you'd expect but overall this is a somewhat lackluster movie. Well, perhaps lackluster is the wrong word but there's no question that the film isn't nearly as funny as one would have hoped.To say this is a one-joke movie would be an understatement. The screenplay from Waters spends a lot of time showing the mom character as a squeaky clean person and then it likes to follow that up with her doing something naughty. At first it's her making her kids throw away their gum and this is followed by her throwing out various profanities. The next moment we have her doing something super nice only to then start her murder streak.All of this is good and fine but after a while the single joke goes cold and there's no question that the murder trial at the end pretty much falls flat on its face. It's clear that Waters is trying to put down people who think they are pure and clean yet are hypocrites but the film just doesn't deliver enough laughs to keep the entertainment level very high.With that said, the cast are certainly good in their roles. Turner delivers a fun performance as she does a nice job playing up both sides of the character. Lake and Lillard are good in their supporting parts as are some of the regular Waters actors who pop up throughout. Waterston really steals the film with his overly-good father part. With that said, one wishes there was a bit more of a bite here but as it stands SERIAL MOM is light entertainment.
Davis P
Serial Mom (1994) is a black comedy starring Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterson, Matthew Lillard and Ricki Lake. The movie focuses on a cheerful seemingly typical Baltimore housewife named Beverly Sutphin. Mrs Sutphin is not so sweet and innocent, if someone does something that annoys her or hurts one of her children..... you better watch your back because Beverly will kill without thinking twice. But will they be able to stop Beverly? All the murders are done in a satirical/comical manner, the entire movie is based in satire. The cast is all great! Kathleen Turner's lead performance as Beverly Sutphin is perfect! She fits the crazy serial mom role well and does so with the proper comedic twist. I really liked Matthew Lillard and Ricki Lake too, they both gave good performances as the kids. Sam Waterson honestly doesn't have all that much to do here, he's the doting husband of Beverly. The script has its definite funny moments since this really is a spoof on crime. Even how some of the victims get killed is funny. The crank phone calls between dotty hinkle and Beverly are absolutely hilarious, that's my favorite part of the entire film! If you don't like profanity then you won't like that scene lol. Overall, the movie isn't the best thing in the world, but it's amusing and entertaining. If you like comical spoof movies then you may enjoy this one. 7/10.
gavin6942
A sweet mother (Kathleen Turner) takes a little too much at heart for the defense of her family.I love the constant references to other films, from "Blood Feast" to "Ghost Dad". The Cosby connection is even more unusual in light of all his terrible behavior.Roger Ebert awarded it an average two stars (out of a possible four) finding some of Waters' satire effective but feeling that Kathleen Turner's decision to portray her character's mental illness with realism instead of in a campy fashion, while brave, made the character difficult to laugh at, writing, "Watch Serial Mom closely and you'll realize that something is miscalculated at a fundamental level. Turner's character is helpless and unwitting in a way that makes us feel almost sorry for her—and that undermines the humor. She isn't funny crazy, she's sick crazy." I think Ebert is wrong. Not wrong in saying it was not as campy as it could be, but the offbeat humor adds something. John Waters is not comedy in any traditional sense, and it would be beneath him to make this a straight comedy (no pun intended). And, you know, this may be his most accessible film, one you can show to your non-cult friends and both enjoy.
AD
