The last movie I watched with my mom was “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” You best believe that I was crying my heart out during Amanda Seyfried’s rendition of the ABBA classic, “I’ve Been Waiting For You.”
I couldn’t even look at my mom during the scene to check if she, too, was crying. It was such a powerful scene that makes you realize the irreplaceable bond between a mother and her child — we will meet and lose a lot of people throughout our lives but mom, mommy, mama, inay will always be there for us. She chose to carry us in her womb for nine months and she chose to love us for so much longer than that.
In the “Mamma Mia” sequel where Meryl Streep’s Donna was implied to have passed away, her spirit comes back with a final message to her daughter — Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie. Through the song, “My Love, My Life,” Donna reminds Sophie that nothing, not even death, can break their bond.
The emotional journey of “Here We Go Again” reminds us how blessed we are to have a mom, or a mother figure, to love us unconditionally. So yes, I recommend watching it with your momma this Mother’s Day.
If you’re not in the mood for a gut-wrenching musical, you can watch these, too:
Mermaids (1990)
Cher’s eccentric Rachel Flax moves her family to the East Coast after another nasty breakup. Mrs. Flax has a disconnect with her 15-year-old daughter Charlotte, played by Winona Ryder, who is going through some challenges (read: puberty) of her own. The movie is a shoutout to single working moms who just go after what they think is best for the family while remembering to look after themselves, too.
Stepmom (1998)
Stepmothers aren’t always evil. In the 1998 film “Stepmom,” Julia Roberts’ Isabel Kelly tries her best to connect with Anna and Ben, the children of her lawyer boyfriend. Anna continually rejects Isabel’s efforts, while Ben is the typical mischievous boy. It doesn’t help that the kids’ real mom doesn’t like her either. The family manages to find peace with one another, eventually.
Freaky Friday (2003)
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan did justice to Mary Rodgers’ 1972 novel Freaky Friday when the pair starred as mother and daughter in the 2003 film of the same name. Overworked mom Tess Coleman and her rebellious 15-year-old Anna switch bodies because of magical fortune cookies (yes, really), enabling them to see the world in each other’s eyes and gain respect for one another.
The Kids Are Alright (2010)
A family can have two moms — that’s what this 2010 comedy-drama teaches us. In the movie, two gay mothers played by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore decide to have two children via artificial insemination. The couple raises two teenagers, Joni and Laser, while constantly second-guessing themselves as partners and parents.
Brave (2012)
What’s a movie recommendation list without at least one Disney movie? In this 2012 Disney Pixar animation, Merida breaks the mold of traditional Disney princesses to teach her mother, Queen Elinor, a thing or two about raising kids. The movie portrays the frustration we all feel when moms and daughters don’t see eye to eye. And the movie definitely got it right.
Have a Movie Date with Momma
One of the best gifts you can give your mom is your time. If she isn’t the type to explore the outdoors or go to the mall, or if her condition prevents you from going out on a mother-daughter date, just spend time with her at home. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, set up a home theater experience with the incredible woman who loved you first and will continue to love you the most.