Because I Said So

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 2, 2007

DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007

Plot 411: A helicopter mom creates an online dating profile for her daughter and screens the applicants to find the perfect match.

Review: Daphne (Diane Keaton) is a single mom who raised three girls - Maggie (Lauren Graham), Mae (Piper Perabo) and Milly (Mandy Moore). She is worried that her youngest daughter Milly isn't happy and will never get married. Thus, Daphne gives in to her overbearing nature (aka helicopter mothering) and takes matters into her own hands. I love Diane Keaton and this movie truly plays up her uncanny ability to be neurotic and insane. She is the stereotypical mom who just wants the best for her kids but ends up loving them too much. They become resentful and often feel guilty about it. Yet, in the end, they all love being family. Amazing how much cinema imitates life huh? While this movie is supposed to focus around Milly's search for love, I can't really say that Moore is one of my favorite young actresses. However, I really enjoyed the character of Daphne so much more. Also in this film are Gabriel Macht and Tom Everett Scott.

Watch It: At a movie night with the girls, then dish about all the horrible things your moms' have done.

Skip It: Because it's pretty brainless fun and will probably turn your noggin into mush.

Smother

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 26, 2008

DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009

Plot 411: An neurotic mother moves into her slacker son's home when she suspects her husband of cheating.

Review: Man, it's been a rough movie-watching experience these past couple of films. Diane Keaton plays Marilyn, a 60-year-old mother and wife who suspects her husband Gene (Ken Howard) is having an affair. Marilyn moves herself and a bunch of rescue dogs into her son Noah's (Dax Shepard) home until she sorts things out. However, also living in the home are Noah's wife Clare (Liv Tyler) and her cousin Myron (Mike White). Marilyn is a complete nutcase and lives her life from one crisis (that she creates and invents on her own) to the next. She feels her life is useless, meaningless and that she has not accomplished anything. Keaton plays the overbearing mother quite well - so well that it's utterly annoying. Because of his parents' instability, Noah is afraid to have kids with his wife and tries to sabotage each attempt. Shepard (of MTV fame) doesn't really stretch the acting muscle much in this role. But then again, neither does Tyler. She's still her serene, zen-like self despite scenes that require emotional turmoil.

Watch It: Maybe . . . but only if you like Diane Keaton. I like her a lot and still this movie didn't do much for me.

Skip It: If you fall into the rest of the viewing audience.