Review of Serial Mom (1994) by John P — 19 Aug 2009

Oh, John Waters. It's nice to see him back to his old tricks after going PG on us with "Hairspray" and "Cry-Baby". "Serial Mom" is a hilarious, politically incorrect, irreverent comedy that satirizes the media's fascination with serial killers.

Kathleen Turner is priceless as Beverly Sutphin, a kind, sweet, June Cleaver-type housewife who will do anything to protect her perfect family. One day, she is driven over the edge by a PTA meeting gone bad, and resorts to murder. Next thing you know there's a serial killer on the loose in Baltimore.

The movie could have been dull, running the one joke into the ground. But Waters uses several sight gags and pop-culture references to make it hilarious.

While the movie itself is hilarious on its own, but it's Turner that makes it ten times more funny. Her facial expressions, her physical comedy... it's too bad the Oscars usually ignore movies like this because she should have had a shot.