The Mother: J.Lo's New Action Flick Receives Mixed Reviews from Critics

Revenge is one of the most familiar motivations in cinema, but the genre has produced countless variations over the years. Netflix’s The Mother, starring Jennifer Lopez, takes that familiar formula and places a determined woman at its center. Directed by Niki Caro, the film combines revenge, family drama, and action while giving Lopez an opportunity to move away from the romantic comedy roles that have defined much of her recent career.

Lopez plays a deadly assassin known only as The Mother, who is being hunted by two dangerous arms dealers, Adrian Lovell and Hector Álvarez, portrayed by Joseph Fiennes and Gael García Bernal. Early in the story, it is revealed that one of these men may be the father of her unborn child, adding another layer to her complicated past.

After an attempt to eliminate Adrian fails, The Mother becomes involved with the FBI. While staying in a safe house, however, the situation quickly turns deadly when Adrian’s team attacks. Most of the agents are killed, leaving William Cruise, played by Omari Hardwick, as one of the few survivors. The Mother saves William and eventually entrusts him with her newborn daughter, asking him to find the child a safe and ordinary home.

Twelve years later, William discovers evidence that Adrian and Hector have learned the daughter is still alive. The girl, Zoe, played by Lucy Paez, becomes a target. The Mother has secretly watched her daughter from a distance for years, but when Zoe is kidnapped, she can no longer remain hidden. She joins forces with William to rescue her child and confront the men responsible.

The film’s strongest element is Lopez herself. She brings convincing intensity to the role and proves capable of carrying an action thriller of this scale. Her performance is especially effective when the character’s protective instincts take over. The emotional relationship between The Mother and Zoe also gives Lopez an opportunity to show a more vulnerable side, creating some of the film’s strongest scenes.

Lucy Paez is equally impressive. Despite sharing the screen with an established global star, she holds her own and delivers an emotionally convincing performance as a teenager suddenly pulled into a dangerous world. Her chemistry with Lopez helps make the mother-daughter relationship believable and gives the action story a stronger emotional foundation.

The supporting performances are more uneven. Fiennes does a solid job as Adrian, but his character often feels like a familiar action-movie villain. His physical scars and violent behavior establish him as dangerous, yet the story does not spend enough time exploring his motivations or personality. García Bernal delivers a memorable performance but receives too little screen time to make his character fully meaningful.

Hardwick is charismatic as William and works particularly well alongside Lopez, but his role could have been developed further. His long-standing connection to Zoe and The Mother raises interesting questions that the film does not fully explore.

The action sequences are among the movie’s highlights. A chase through Cuba provides some of the most exciting moments, while the confrontation between Lopez and Fiennes delivers an intense physical showdown. The film also moves through striking locations, including snowy Alaska, Cuba, and mountainous regions connected to the characters’ past.

However, the pacing can be inconsistent. The story starts strongly but occasionally loses momentum as it moves between locations and subplots. Some characters and story elements feel underdeveloped, while the ending arrives somewhat abruptly without delivering the emotional payoff expected from a revenge thriller.

Ultimately, The Mother is an entertaining but imperfect action movie. The story follows familiar revenge-thriller conventions and occasionally struggles with pacing and character development, but Jennifer Lopez gives it enough energy and emotional weight to remain compelling. Her performance, combined with the strong mother-daughter relationship and several impressive action sequences, makes the film worth watching even if it never reaches the level of the genre’s best examples.

Rating: C+

The Mother began streaming on Netflix on May 12, 2023.

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026.