Big Momma's House (2000)

In order to protect a beautiful woman and her son from a robber, a male FBI agent disguises himself as a large grandmother.

Director:

Raja Gosnell

Writers:

Darryl Quarles (story), Darryl Quarles (screenplay)

Stars:

Martin Lawrence, Nia Long, Paul Giamatti

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Lawrence	...	Malcolm Turner
Nia Long	...	Sherry Pierce
Paul Giamatti	...	John
Jascha Washington	...	Trent Pierce
Terrence Howard	...	Lester Vesco (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Anthony Anderson	...	Nolan
Ella Mitchell	...	Hattie Mae Pierce (Big Momma)
Carl Wright	...	Ben Rawley
Phyllis Applegate	...	Sadie
Starletta DuPois	...	Miss Patterson
Jessie Mae Holmes	...	Miss Other Patterson
Nicole Prescott	...	Lena
Octavia Spencer	...	Twila (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Tichina Arnold	...	Ritha
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Reverend

Storyline

FBI agent Malcolm Turner is known best for being a brilliant, master of disguise. Malcolm's latest assignment sends him to small-town Georgia, where he's assigned to trap a brutal bank robber (and a recent prison escapee) who they suspect will be coming down to visit his ex-girlfriend Sherry and her son. Malcolm sets up a stakeout across from the home of a larger-than-life southern matriarch known as Big Momma, who's about to be visited by Sherry. It's a simple plan, but there's one big problem: Unbeknownst to Sherry, Big Momma has unexpectedly left town. So Malcolm, decides to impersonate the cantankerous Southern granny. Using a few tricks of disguise, he completely transforms himself into Big Momma, even taking on the corpulent septuagenarian's everyday routine-from cooking soul food to delivering babies to "testifying" at the local church. In the mean time, Malcolm starts falling for Sherry, who may or may not be hiding some stolen cash. Now, Malcolm/Big Momma must somehow find a ...

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Plot Keywords:

female impersonation | gender disguise | obesity | disguise | fbi | 

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Taglines:

It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude humor including sexual innuendo, and for language and some violence

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mi abuela es un peligro

Filming Locations:

Glendale, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,661,041, 4 June 2000

Gross USA:

$117,559,438

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$173,959,438

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Regency Enterprises, Runteldat Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriter Darryl Quarles came up with the idea for the name "Big Momma" because it was what the neighborhood kids used to call his own real life mother.

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Goofs

The position of Malcolm's necklace while he is talking to Sherry about going on the fishing trip alternates from shot to shot.

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Quotes

John: [on the phone] Yeah, he knows what he's doing.
John: [faces Malcolm immediately afterwards] What the hell are you doing?

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Alternate Versions

For the UK version the distributor chose to cut eight seconds of violence in the opening martial arts scene, and a head butt in a later scene, in order to achieve a "12" rating. Initial video releases used this same print. All cuts were waived in 2011, and is currently available uncut in the UK with a "12" certificate.

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Connections

Referenced in Family Guy: Passenger Fatty-Seven (2017)

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Soundtracks

Security
Written by Otis Redding and Margaret Wessen
Performed by Otis Redding
Courtesy of ATCO Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Not Nearly As Bad As I Feared

Why did I rent this movie? I don't really appreciate Martin Lawrence, not his old TV show nor his stand-up routine. But I did rent it nonetheless, fearing that I'd wasted my $2.99 after returning home.

My fears were ungrounded. This movie is actually funny, hysterically so in a few scenes. Not to mislead the reader, I have to state that this movie is nothing great; it's actually just a trifle. Just suspend all belief as Lawrence portrays an FBI agent who dons a fat-suit in order to impersonate the 350-pound aunt of the lovely young suspect Lawrence and his partner are tailing. Of course, no one, not even the aunt's suitor, can tell the difference. If you can get by this absurd premise, "Big Momma's House" contains some really rib-tickling slapstick. When Lawrence, while impersonating Big Mama, is required to mid-wife a birth...that scene alone is worth the $2.99.