MOMMY BE MINE (TV Movie 2018) 6 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 2:45 This movie needs a sequel...

 This movie needs a sequel...

MOMMY BE MINE (TV Movie 2018) 6 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 2:45 This movie needs a sequel...

BASIC PLOT: 

Cara Dawson (Sierra Pond) has just arrived in town, and has set her sites on finding a new family, especially one with a mom she can bond with. After a chance meeting, at her new high school, Cara is sure she's found what she's looking for with the Hughes family. She's determined to make Summer Hughes (Ava Locklear) her new best friend, and Lianne Hughes (Arianne Zucker), her new mom. She has a few obstacles to overcome though. Summer's current best friend, Tori (Megan McGown) for one. She thinks there's something wrong with Cara, and she maybe right. Jason (Cameron Gellman), Summer's boyfriend, also thinks Cara's behavior is odd, and after a few days, Summer is starting to agree. Cara has no boundaries, and can't take no for and answer. Things are also starting to go wrong in Summer's life, since Cara's arrival. Can Summer unravel Cara's true motives in time to save those she loves?

WHAT WORKS: 

*SUMMER AND LIANNE'S RELATIONSHIP IS ALL TOO REAL Lianne (Arianne Zucker) has to work too much since her husband's death, and this has caused a rift between her and her daughter. Because of the distance between them, she doesn't know what's going on in her daughter's life, and is quick to accuse her of drug use, based on Cara's baseless insinuations (instead of just asking her, in a concerned manner). Unfortunately, this is a believable trope, lived out everyday in many a household. Parents don't talk to their children, they talk down to them, or at them, with less than stellar results.

*EXCELLENT CINEMATOGRAPHY AND DIRECTING Almost all of the shots are well framed, and lighted. This is a rarity in made-for-tv movies, and Sean Olson (director) and Stuart Brereton (cinematographer) deserve a nod for a job well done.

*GREAT COVER ART That is also a rarity in made-for-tv movies, and I wish I could give credit to the artist, but alas, I couldn't find who designed it.

*TRAILER IS EXCELLENT If you like melodramas, this trailer will make you want to pop some corn, and watch the whole movie.

*THE ENDING IS GREAT, AND PROVES IT NEEDS A SEQUEL Melodramas that are in on the joke are more entertaining, and the ending of this movie, proves it's in on it's own ridiculousness. It doesn't take itself too seriously, it's preposterous hokum, it knows it, and it invites you along for a diverting ride. Enjoy!

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: 

*TORI IS OVER THE TOP MEAN AND JEALOUS TOWARDS CARA AND JASON I know this is a melodrama, and that means motives and actions are exaggerated, BUT, Tori's (Megan McGown) over the top hated and abuse of Cara (Sierra Pond) makes it hard to believe Summer (Ava Locklear) would have Tori for a friend. Tori's behavior towards Cara, is as bad as Cara's (the villainess), and that doesn't work. Short Version: Good girls don't tend to be friends with mean girls, especially vicious mean girls.

*TEENAGERS WHO ARE ALMOST ADULTS DON'T EXCHANGE BFF JEWELRY If they were in junior high, fine, but seniors in high school? No.

*JASON WOULD TELL SUMMER CARA CAME ON TO HIM Jason (Cameron Gellman) would not hide the fact that Cara (Sierra Pond) came on to him, especially since Cara came on to him in a bizarre way. Jason and Summer have been together for two years, he'd tell her if something happened.

*AVA LOCKLEAR NEEDS MORE WORK BEFORE SHE GETS MORE WORK I know this is (Ava Locklear)'s first big role, and I know this is a melodrama, BUT she still needs an acting coach. Her lines seem like she read them off a cue card, and very stiffly read at that, not natural in any way.

*YOU CAN TELL THIS IS WRITTEN BY A MAN Men in general need to get a clue, and realize they are being punished for the sins of their peers. Why are women so willing to believe bad things about men, even good men? Because good men have acted shamefully, or covered for other men's bad behavior. Jason should not stay mad at Summer for believing the worst about him, when even his fellow football player believed the same (that he was cheating), AND Summer gives him a heartfelt apology, which he doesn't accept. EVERY WOMAN HAS A STORY, where she, or someone close to her, was treated shamefully by a man. This is why women are so willing to believe the worst. If a woman wrote this script, she would have Jason fighting for Summer, and trying to discover who framed him, so he could win her back. And that my friends, would be a better story.

*TORI HAS CARA'S CONTACT INFO IN HER PHONE Why? They HATE each other. Also, Tori pulls up her contact info, but there's only a phone number, but then she copies Cara's address into a search engine. How? There was no address, just a phone number, which doesn't make sense anyway, seeing as how THEY HATE EACH OTHER!

TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: 

*If you are a fan of the absurd melodramas, then give this a whirl. It's ridiculous, it knows it, it's not trying to be anything other than it is - a fun, diverting hour and a half, time waster. If you need to shut your brain off for a bit, and your a fan of made-for-tv movies, then pop that corn 🍿, kick off your shoes, and enjoy the silly ride.

CLOSING NOTES: 

*THIS IS A MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.

*I HAVE NO CONNECTION TO THE FILM, or production in ANY way. This review was NOT written in full, or in part, by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews (less trolls and fanboys), and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.