As he introduced Saturday Night Liveannual Mother’s Day show last night, Matt Damon had to confess to do. This year, he was It’s sad to say, the mothers of the actors did not come to 30 Rock to start things with a dose of warm fuzzies. Instead, he offered a service to every terrified child in the audience who arrived on Mother’s Day night without buying their mom a gift: a “personalized,” direct-to-camera greeting that not only flattered the recipient’s face but also reminded them that they deserved a break. Why not go to the theater—perhaps to see the actor’s next movie, Odysseytrailer that simply played in the commercial break following Damon’s monologue.
In a way, she was making a cultural apology for bad behavior: ignoring the one day a year dedicated to recognizing our mothers and the hard work motherhood often takes for granted. But what if there was a way to make up for all the forgotten Mother’s Days? A timeless thank you card that fulfills the needs of any mom who may be feeling unappreciated, tired, or neglected? Maybe one that comes with goo-goo eyes from Matt Damon?
That’s it”Mom: Movies“ is for. In gentle, soft, crowd-pleasing moods, SNLAshley Padilla channeled the kind of maternal figure she’s glorified for two seasons on the show — culturally untouched, vivacious and draped in statement accessories. Big joke: Only in the movies can a family fulfill its basic desires for companionship, attention, and praise. More than that, she was a mother who had everything she could ever want: Her grown children were back home, two grandchildren were on the way, and she was Mrs. Matt Damon—Rhonda Damon, to be honest. Although it was funny, “a story of mothers, for mothers” was deeply sad. The making of the film’s trailer and Padilla’s exaggerated reactions and line readings set the scene in the realm of comedy. But much of his humor came from portraying everyday mannerisms as Hollywood pretensions, alongside Damon’s high-flying cinematic humor.
The comedy targets hit hard and often, with punch lines that can illuminate both sides of the parent-child divide. Rhonda enticed Damon with an offer to “get into something nicer,” then tore off her Talbots-esque top to reveal sharp, ripped shoulder slits. The lavish gift she gave her daughter was not only tolerated but proudly worn outside the house—prompting Padilla to exclaim: “Is that the pink purse I bought you with the big old gold chain?” And in a nod to anyone who’d ever given their mother a mid-movie summary of who a character was and how they were related, everyone on screen wore a name tag.
When the trailer cut to three middle-aged women in the audience (played by Chloe Fineman, Sarah Sherman, and Jane Wickline) giving their take on the film, a surprising irony was introduced: A film where a mother was excited to spend all her time with her loving family was there to give her real-world peers some much-needed time away from their families. The paradox revolved around the film’s mythic elements, which allowed the intended audience to escape their own sad reality and live in Padilla’s bejeweled, scarf-adorned one. (The stark contrast between his impressive home and the drab, brightly lit theater playroom was a touch of stark contrast.)
Then again, one of the other turns of parody argued that the fantasy had more to do with the screen than the actual movie. The cartoon understood the parody’s target population well enough to realize that with all the mental and physical energy that moms use, they’re likely to screw themselves up before the second act. For the rest of the runtime, the narrator explained aloud, the film was little more than a parade of smiling actors and re-arranged actors.
The women were shown resting as the film did its best not to disturb their sleep—revealing additional and important frustrations. Mothers were the subject of ridicule, but they were portrayed sympathetically as well. Because, of course, the average mother works hard the other 364 days of the year to deserve the honor of Mother’s Day that puts her modest dreams of grateful children and a thoughtful spouse on the silver screen. But perhaps the best gift is a quiet, dark room where he can slip away for a long alone time.
