Director John Waters says that “Serial Mom” is not only one of his own favorite creations, but it’s also the one movie that his two different fanbases (those who dance with “Hairspray” and those who cackle at “Pink Flamingos”) both enjoy. What’s even more interesting is how the film has aged incredibly well and seems timelier than it did in 1994.
Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner) is a hoity-toity suburban mother who seemingly spends her days like June Cleaver. She makes the perfect breakfasts, keeps the perfect home, doesn’t allow gum chewing in the house and plays Barry Manilow’s “Daybreak” on a continuous loop. She’s married to a dentist (Sam Waterston) and has two kids in high school (Ricki Lake and Matthew Lillard in his first big screen role). The Sutphin household appears to be the suburban Stepford ideal, but little things are getting to Beverly, such as her daughter’s uncaring guy friend and her son’s teacher insisting the boy’s interest in horror movies is unhealthy. By the time Beverly’s shown making profanity laced prank calls to uptight neighbor Dottie Hinkle (Mink Stole), we know all is not as it seems. And then she just starts killing people without conscience (but with humor) – anyone she perceives to be a threat to her or her perfect family.
In the second half of the film, the satire really kicks in, and it’s there that the material is most relevant to today’s audience. Beverly is outed, arrested, and put on trial, where she inadvertently attains a celebrity status in Baltimore (where Waters always shoots and sets his films). Beverly becomes a hero to the masses and it’s easy to see why: She hates the annoying, clueless people we all detest, but comically takes her loathing a few steps further than we would. “Serial Mom” is a riot, and a hell of a lot funnier than much of what’s passed off as comedy these days. Amongst the extras on this disc are two separate commentaries – one with Waters flying solo is a repeat from the original DVD release, and the other a brand new track with Waters and Turner. Both are as much fun as the movie itself.
