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MOM'S HOUSE — I think we can all agree with Abraham Lincoln when he said, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”
Even when we don’t understand their actions, our mothers always have the best of intentions. Here’s a look at five movies with moms who might be a little awkward, but we love them for exactly who they are.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding — Maria Portokalos
From the moment her child is born, moms make plans, and Maria is the perfect example of that. She knew exactly what she wanted for her daughter, Toula, but unfortunately things don’t work out like she planned.
You have to give Maria credit, though. Her skill set is quite impressive. She can peel about a thousand potatoes in just a few short hours, and cook a meal that feeds an entire Greek family and three Americans. She may not be able to spell all words from her second language, but there is no woman more competent in the kitchen than Maria.
Despite their disagreements, it is clear that Maria and Toula share a special bond of love, and it’s that the most important part of being a mother?
Easy A — Rosemary Penderghast
While she may not be the most conventional mother in the world, there are a lot of reasons why Rosemary is one of the best moms ever. In a household full of quick-firing wit and endless sarcasm, Rosemary is the glitter glue that holds it all together.
Supportive is one word that describes Olive’s mother. When Olive goes on a rampage to prove a point to her peers, her mother is right behind her with all the support and gusto she can muster. She’s like a personal cheerleader for her daughter.
More importantly though, Rosemary is there when everything falls apart, and Olive needs some motherly advice. You might disagree with some of her antics or the choices of her past, but no one can deny that this woman is a great mother.
Freaky Friday (2013) — Tess Coleman
It’s easy to understand why the mother-daughter relationship in this movie is a little strained, but maybe the solution to their problems is found in a fortune cookie.
When Tess and Anna switch bodies they have to adapt and try to understand each other’s perspective. This would be difficult for any mother to return to being 15 in high school, but Tess quickly gains an understanding, if not an appreciation, for her daughter's interests and struggles.
One of the best qualities of Tess as a mother is that she isn’t afraid of trying new things. Whether it’s playing the electric guitar, riding on the back of a motorcycle, or really listening to what her daughter has to say, Tess gains a whole new look at life on that “Freaky Friday.”
Back to the Future — Lorraine Baines McFly
Was your mom a bombshell when she was younger? Well, Marty McFly’s mom was. When he gets sent back to 1965 he gets a first-hand look at what his mom was like as a teenager. Before she was Lorraine McFly, she was Lorraine Baines, the prettiest girl at Hill Valley High School.
In a strange turn of events, Marty finds himself to be the object of Lorraine's affections, even though he is trying to set up his parents for the school dance. There aren’t very many situations that are more awkward than kissing your dear old mom.
With all the chaos that ensues from Marty’s visit to the past, it’s not hard to understand why Lorraine later gives her children very conservative dating advice. She’s only trying to protect them from the crazy things that can happen when you are in love.
Juno — Brenda McGuff
Moms are created in a variety of ways and no one knows that better than Juno. When she finds herself pregnant, Juno decides to place her baby with an adoptive couple, Mark and Vanessa Loring. This is understandably a difficult decision, but luckily she has Brenda, her stepmom, at her side.
Brenda might not be Juno’s biological mother, but that makes no difference to this mama bear. She is fiercely defensive of Juno and won’t take lip from anyone criticizing her stepdaughter. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Brenda puts a nosy ultra-sound technician in her place, and makes sure Juno knows how proud she is of her.
Despite her strange obsession with dogs and her occasional potty mouth, Brenda knows how to take care of her babies.
Sarah Bringhurst is recent graduate from Utah Valley University and currently an intern with Ok.com. EMAIL: sarah@ok.com
