Mom, Can I Keep Her? (1998 Video) User Reviews

Absolutely pitiful attempt at something that's been done before - and better

[ollie501 · 2/10 · 17 May 2003]

The basic premise behind this drivel is simple. Kid's Mom has died, has new Step-mom, makes friends with gorilla, gorilla gets shot, gorilla gets better, everything works out just fine. Except that is, for the film itself. Fan's of this genre of film would do better to avoid this and go for the far superior "Born to be Wild". Even Malcolm in the Middle's Justin Berfield (Reece), who is usually pretty good, can't hold this dreadful film together. He manages to pull off a couple of nice emotive scenes, but that's about it. The gorilla is about as convincing as a trash can in a dress, the music is lousy, the direction is tired and dull, and the less said about the script the better. Not even worth catching on TV.

Ollie

Terry Funk

[BandSAboutMovies · 3/10 · 29 October 2022]

Terry Funk is the wrestler that every other wrestler wants to be. When I was a kid and saw him battling Hulk Hogan in his short WWF stint, trying to punch ring announcers, running out with a branding iron and yelling at everyone in his path, I said to myself, "I'm going to be Terry Funk someday." And that was before ECW, before death matches in Japan, before he did moonsaults in his fifties. I trained with his brother Dory and kept asking, "How does Terry throw those great punches?" The art of pro wrestling is very important and making things look perfect is even more so.

He told me he'd tell me someday.

This movie - directed by Fred Olen Ray, also a pro wrestler - starts with Terry Funk as Jungle Ed, introducing a gorilla on stage and do we need anything else from this movie? How about if it also has a cast of people I'd love to meet? One-time Buck Rogers Gil Gerard? He's on hand. So are Alana Stewart, Brinke Stevens, Reese from Malcolm In the Middle, George "Buck" Flower, Don McLeod (TC Quist and also the gorilla from those old commercials who'd jump up and down on suitcases) and Mary Woronov too.

Let me say that for you real loud.

Mary Woronov is in a movie with Terry Funk.

Look, a gorilla eats all the cookies. And Brinke Stevens is just so wonderful, I want to write her poetry and leave it in her mailbox because I'd be too shy for her to ever know it was from me.

So on the way out of Florida and leaving the Funkin' Dojo, I asked Dory Funk Jr. Again, "How can Terry make his punches look so good?"

He answered, "He just punches you in the face."

Terrible!

[MyLyric · 1/10 · 16 October 2004]

This was the worst I've ever seen. It was hard for me to just sit still in my seat, it was so lame.

Despite a temporarily funny picture of the gorilla (Zamora) in "human" clothing, she was so unrealistic both in appearance and behavior that it was impossible to get interested in the story.

As for the actors, Justin Berfield (Timmy Blair) did pretty well considering the poor script, but just about every other actor and their script was also impossible to buy. There was no apparent effort put into making the story and film realistic. The movie was poorly done, plain and simple.

This film could be described as very amateur and a waste of time.

The Ballad of the Fake Gorilla

[topclaw · 21 February 2003]

To be honest I only watched it because it has the Kid from Malcom in the Middle. The Grollia is so fake it's kind of Freaky, and it feels so weird that in this Justin is a sweet Twelve year old but in Malcom in the Middle he's a roughy toughy punk.

Something that really Puzzles me is that why did a guy who directed a God Awful B-Grade Politically Incorrect Pornographic Horror Film. (Evil Toons) direct a sweet Family Movie starring an odd looking Gorilla. Well, I guess some things should be left unexplained...

Mom, can I keep this movie? I like it!

[inkblot11 · 6/10 · 24 April 2005]

Timmy (Justin Berfield) has a new stepmother, much to his disliking. His father, a doctor, barely had enough time for him before the wedding; now, Justin has to share time with his dad with HER. Eva is proving herself to be a bit strict as well. When he brings home a dog, she won't allow him to keep him, saying his behavior is below par. Timmy is miffed. However, a gorilla escapes from a dismal sideshow operation and ends up in Timmy's garage. He is determined to keep THIS pet. However, he is in a long line of people after the ape, from the sideshow owner to a big game hunter to the animal welfare people. Will Timmy be able to hide the gorilla? What will his new stepmother say if she finds out? Okay. The gorilla here is not a real animal. However, she is a delightful puppet or creature with a sweet and lively personality. Her name is Zamora and she can charm the pants off children and adults. Berfield, too, is wonderful as the child who misses his deceased mother and needs more attention from his father, while trying to accept the fact that his new mother is here to stay. The supporting players are just fine (Alana Stewart is a bit pouty, it seems) and the sunny California scenery is a nice view in those places that have much snowfall. Families searching for acceptable movies for the whole gang to watch will like this one; (one should be aware that there was one noticeable swear word). Mom, can we keep this movie? will likely be the response if mother or father should bring this one home.