Mother's Day (2016 film)

Plot

As Mother's Day draws close, a group of seemingly unconnected people in Atlanta come to terms with the relationships they have with their mothers. Sandy (Jennifer Aniston) is a divorced mother of two boys whose ex-husband has recently remarried a younger woman named Tina (Shay Mitchell). Miranda (Julia Roberts) is an accomplished writer who gave up her only child, Kristin (Britt Robertson), for adoption at birth. But as a grown-up Kristin prepares herself for marriage, she begins to contemplate the missing part in her life and is encouraged by her friend, Jesse (Kate Hudson), to go out and find her mother. Meanwhile, Jesse and Gabi, who never see their mother, are surprised by their parents when they come to visit and must come to terms with their failing relationship.

Development

In April 2013, Dennis Dugan confirmed that he would next develop Garry Marshall's comedy film Mother's Day.

Casting

On June 30, 2015, four cast members were announced, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, and Jason Sudeikis, with the film to be directed by Garry Marshall and scripted by Anya Kochoff-Romano and Lily Hollander. Brandt Andersen produced, along with Wayne Rice and Mike Karz. On July 22, 2015, Open Road Films acquired US distribution rights to the film, and it was revealed that Matt Walker and Tom Hines would co-write the script. On August 21, 2015, Ella Anderson joined the film's cast to play Vicky, Sudeikis's character's daughter. On August 26, 2015, Timothy Olyphant, Britt Robertson, Shay Mitchell, Jack Whitehall, Loni Love, and Aasif Mandvi joined the cast. On October 6, Hilary Duff was confirmed to appear, but she declined because of her role in the second season of Younger.

Filming

Principal photography on the film began on August 18, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia. Though shooting her part required only four days, Julia Roberts was paid $3 million.

Release

Mother's Day was released domestically on April 29, 2016 by Open Road Films.

Box office

Mother's Day grossed $32.5 million in the U.S. and Canada and $11.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $43.8 million against a budget of $25 million.

In the United States and Canada, pre-release tracking suggested the film would gross around $11 million from 3,035 theaters in its opening weekend, trailing fellow newcomer Keanu ($10–14 million projection) but besting Ratchet & Clank ($8–10 million projection). The film grossed $2.6 million on its first day and $8.4 million in its opening weekend, finishing 4th at the box office, behind The Jungle Book ($43.7 million), The Huntsman: Winter's War ($9.6 million), and Keanu ($9.5 million). In its second weekend the film grossed $11.1 million (an increase of 32.5%), finishing 3rd at the box office, behind Captain America: Civil War ($179.1 million) and The Jungle Book ($24.5 million).

Critical response

Mother's Day was panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 7% based on 133 reviews with an average rating of 2.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Arguably well-intended yet thoroughly misguided, Mother's Day is the cinematic equivalent of a last-minute gift that only underscores its embarrassing lack of effort." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 18 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.

Richard Roeper gave the film zero out of four stars, saying, "...nothing could have prepared us for the offensively stupid, shamelessly manipulative, ridiculously predictable and hopelessly dated crapfest that is Mother's Day."

Peter Bradshaw, writing in The Guardian, gave the film one star out of five, calling it "as feelgood and life-affirming as a fire in an asbestos factory neighbouring a children's hospital."