Melissa McCarthy finds herself heading back to university after her husband abruptly asks for a divorce, only this time, she’ll be a student alongside her teenage daughter Maddie. McCarthy plunges headfirst into the campus experience with her less than thrilled daughter but soon the two embrace all the fun, freedom & frat parties on a journey of self-discovery. To celebrate the release of Life of the Party on DVD from the 17th September, we’re taking a look at some of our favourite mother-daughter duos from over the years.
- Mamma Mia
Synopsis: In this Broadway musical adaptation, Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, a bride-to-be who is trying to identify her father out of three of her mother’s (Meryl Streep) former boyfriends.
Meryl Streep is magnificent as always, and her (sometimes tested) relationship with Sophie is both believable and relatable. The pair share some lovely moments, including getting ready for her wedding to the tune ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’.
- Freaky Friday
Synopsis: An overworked mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her daughter (Lindsay Lohan) do not get along. What could unite mother and daughter more than to switch bodies?
There’s much to love in this film – Curtis and Lohan’s performances, a great soundtrack (e.g. Chic’s ‘Le Freak’), and noughties heart-throb Chad Michael Murray as the love interest.
It was Disney’s third film adaptation of the novel, after the 1976 film Freaky Friday starring Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster, and the 1995 television film Freaky Friday starring Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffmann. It was subsequently adapted into a musical, produced by Disney, in 2017.
- Stepmom
Synopsis: A terminally ill woman has to settle on her former husband’s new lover, who will be their children’s stepmother.
In the film, the characters played by Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon are often at odds with each other. In reality, the two are close friends, and chose this project specifically to work on together.
It’s a touching tale about love that doesn’t fail to move you no matter how many times you see it.
- Because I Said So
Synopsis: A meddling mother tries to set her daughter up with the right man so her kid won’t follow in her footsteps.
With an all-star cast including Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Lauren Graham and Piper Perabo, this classic rom-com ticks all the boxes.
Accused of being a ‘helicopter mom’ Diane Keaton, at breaking point, says the heart-breaking line, ‘I just want you girls to understand something about motherhood. It’s the most impossible love. You tell me when it ends, you tell me when it stops.’
- The Kids Are Alright
Synopsis: Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) are lesbian mothers to 18-year-old Joni (Mia Wasikowska). The supportive family gets shaken up when Joni and her brother (Josh Hutcherson) meet their sperm donor father (Mark Ruffalo).
Released in 2010, the film was among the first mainstream movies to show a married lesbian and bisexual couple raising two teenagers.
The Kids Are Alright was nominated for 4 Academy-Awards, including Best Picture and is often listed on critics’ top ten lists.
- Mermaids
Synopsis: An unconventional single mother relocates with her two daughters to a small Massachusetts town in 1963, where a number of events and relationships both challenge and strengthen their familial bonds.
With fantastic roles from Cher, Winona Ryder (whose 15-year-old character narrates the film) and Christina Ricci in her first on-screen role, this film is a heart-warming hit for mothers and daughters alike.
Cher’s mermaid costume is also to die for.
- Akeelah and the Bee
Synopsis: A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee.
Despite her mother’s objections, Akeelah doesn’t give up. Ultimately, her determination and genius wins her mother over and she comes to understand and share her dreams.
- Terms of Endearment
Synopsis: The quintessential mother/daughter film, Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine take us through 30 years of relationship ups and downs.
The film received eleven Academy Award nominations and won five.
With an ultimate all-star cast, The film includes two Oscar winners: Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson; and four Oscar nominees: Debra Winger, John Lithgow, Danny DeVito, and Albert Brooks.
Life of the Party is out now on digital download and available 17th September on DVD.
