Screen Scene: "Because I Said So"

“Because I Said So”
Director Michael Lemann
Universal Pictures

In a role that comes far too easily and often for her, Diane
Keaton once again plays the overbearing and high-strung mother in
“Because I Said So.”

In this case, Keaton’s (Daphne) target is her youngest
daughter Milly, played by first-a-singer, now-an-actress Mandy
Moore.

The film opens with a series of weddings as Milly’s older
and less socially awkward sisters become happily married and Milly
cements her reputation as the love-challenged one.

And thus, as Daphne witnesses Milly’s continuous flow of
failed relationships, she steps up to her role of protective and
all-knowing mother by taking matters into her own hands. She
secretly submits a personal ad seeking a “life mate”
for her hopeless daughter.

After a string of disastrous interviews for such
“mates,” Daphne finally decides upon a partner-in-crime
to aid her in her little love scheme, a charming and wealthy young
architect. However, shortly after a successful encounter between
Milly and her arranged companion, Daphne finds her plan set askew
as a third man ““ a handsome guitarist ““ enters the
scene.

Having previously sworn off men and resigned to a life of
singledom, Milly finds herself with two men at her disposal. But
staying true to her meddling motherly ways, Daphne is determine to
make the man she’s chosen Milly’s ultimate mate.

Reminiscent of her roles in “Something’s Got To
Give” and “The Family Stone,” Keaton again
perfects the prying mother from hell. Although her neurotic ways
provide for the comedic value of the film, the character’s
over-the-top control freak qualities often cause more stress than
laughter. But as Moore’s disposition balances the dynamic on
screen, her innocent and socially inept character allows the mother
and daughter to learn from one another.

Although this film appears to be the perfect contender for a
mother-daughter movie date, a string of blatant yet occasionally
comical sexual references takes away from this quality. Though many
scenes intend to suggest closeness between the women, the
conversations between the mother and daughter are raunchier than
desired.

While a combination of Moore’s clumsiness and
Keaton’s restlessness do make the film entertaining, the
dynamic between mother and daughter in “Because I Said
So” is clearly beyond the birds and the bees.