Hi, Mom (2021)

Hi, Mom earns its place in your heart by turning a high-concept time-slip premise into something disarmingly human: a daughter’s aching wish to love her mother better, and to be worthy of the love she’s already been given. It moves with the easy rhythm of a crowd-pleasing comedy, then quietly blindsides you with sincere, full-bodied emotion that feels earned rather than engineered. There’s an empowering, woman-centered warmth running through every scene, celebrating everyday resilience and the complicated tenderness between mothers and daughters without turning anyone into a saint. If you’re allergic to sentimental stories, you may find it a bit openly tear-jerking—but if you’ve ever wanted to call your mom after a movie, this beloved hit knows exactly why.

Hi, Mom is aiming for a big, crowd-pleasing cry-laugh about regret, family love, and the fantasy of getting a do-over with a parent, and when it hits, it really does feel heartfelt. The problem is the time-travel setup is more emotional convenience than coherent story, and if you’re the type who needs rules and logic to hold, you’ll start poking holes fast. The humor and pacing can also feel sketch-like, as if a series of strong bits are stitched together rather than building naturally, and the 1980s setting comes off a little romanticized and unrecognizable to anyone expecting a grounded period portrait. If you want a tidy, believable narrative, this may frustrate you—but if you’re open to a sentimental, broad comedy-drama that prioritizes feelings over plausibility, it can still land.