There is a reason why Otherhood strongly reminds one of the HBO show Sex and the City. Director Cindy Chupack who makes her feature debut with Otherhood, has won Golden Globes and Emmys for her work as a writer and executive producer of Sex and the City, and the influence shows throughout the film.
So as one watches Carol Walker, Gillian Lieberman and Helen Halston waking up in their picture-perfect homes and moaning the fact that their sons have forgotten Mother’s Day, you are wondering if Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda would do the same! But then Samantha and Carrie do not have children, Charlotte’s daughters would be first among equals in the flowers and card stakes, and Brady would not dream of ignoring his mum — Steve and Magda will ensure it.
- Cast: Patricia Arquette, Angela Bassett, Felicity Huffman, Jake Hoffman, Sinqua Walls, Jake Lacy
- Director: Cindy Chupack
- Run time: 100 minutes
- Story line: Three women ignored by their sons on Mother’s Day teach and learn life lessons
Otherhood, based on William Sutcliffe’s book Whatever Makes You Happy plods along with no surprises along the way. Carol, Gillian and Helen have been friends since their sons were little boys. Carol has lost her husband but clings on to the house, while her son Matt has made it big in Manhattan as an art designer for a magazine. Gillian’s son Daniel, is also in Manhattan as a broke alcoholic and almost-writer. Helen’s son Paul is doing well, but has some abandonment issues.
When the three women realise their sons have ignored them on Mother’s Day, they head out to New York to teach their boys some life lessons, learning some themselves in the process. Otherhood putters along checking all the boxes from fashion makeovers to chasing after a loved one leaving town. A wedding, a baby and conversations at the saloon, are thrown in for good measure.
Angela Basset takes a break from playing tough intelligence chiefs to play Carol, while Gillian is played by Patricia Arquette and Felicity Huffman is Samantha-type Helen. The fact that one can watch the film at home is a major plus. This is not a movie you would want to brave the traffic for and pay exorbitant rates for stale popcorn.
Otherhood steams on Netflix