’Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ Review: Ali Kicks Ass & Breaks Hearts

Disappointed, angry, or mourning the fact that Marvel Studios couldn’t move forward with Blade starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali? Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, written and directed by Bassam Tariq, is the film we didn’t know we needed, but the one we deserve. Ali stars as Latif, a devout Muslim who also secretly works as a contract hitman. He follows a strict code of never using guns and only killing people who absolutely deserve it. After a tragedy, he quits his criminal life and devotes himself entirely to his three kids—until his former employer, Mike (Laith Nakli), forces him back in to protect his nephew, Hatty (Abubakr Ali), from a religious extremist, Haun Yoon (John Cho).

While the premise may seem like a typical action thriller, Tariq subverts all expectations by blending themes of faith and fatherhood. It’s a deeply personal story with emotional gut punches, plus a few literal punches sprinkled throughout to keep the momentum up.

It also has a surprising number of comedic moments to give the film some levity. While this is their first collaboration that actually got developed, Ali and Tariq have already proved they’re a filmmaking duo we need more of, like Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan.

Mahershala Ali Marvels With a Blade in ‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’

While Ali has taken on action roles in The Hunger Games franchise and Jurassic World Rebirth, he’s never been the leading man in an action film—and he absolutely needs to do it more. When Marvel Studios was in pre-production for Blade, Ali spent over a year training with a sword to prepare for the role of Eric Brooks. But with the studio choosing not to move forward with that film, Ali brought his swordsman skills over to Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother in exquisite fashion.

Tariq does a great job of making each action scene worthwhile, instead of overloading the film with bombastic moments. You can feel the weight of each hit, slash, or gunshot. Cho and Ali’s first scene together is absolutely tense and gorgeously shot and choreographed. Paired with an atmospheric score by Son Lux, who worked on Everything Everywhere All at Once and Thunderbolts*, the film fully immerses you.

Bassam Tariq Tackles the Moral Complexities of Religion and Justice

Even for someone not fully exposed to Muslim culture and teachings, outside of shows like Ms. Marvel and Ramy (which Ali also starred in), the film gives enough context for someone like me to understand it and learn so many new things. I won’t spoil the meaning behind the title, but it references an Islamic story that ties heavily to the film’s themes and Latif’s motivation.

Similar to how Matt Murdock/Daredevil uses Catholicism as his ethical compass, Latif uses Islam to justify why some criminals deserve to die. When he has to go up against Yoon, an extremist pastor who’s far more aggressive with his teachings, Tariq does a good job of showing how they’re more similar than they think. Some of the most compelling villains in media are dark mirrors of the protagonist. While it can be jarring to see Cho in this role, he delivers a haunting performance and becomes a character you love to hate.

‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ Is a Cut Above Typical Action Thrillers

While Ali and Cho are strong opposing leads, the rest of the cast supports the film, literally and figuratively. Adia makes her film debut as Latif’s daughter and drives many of the emotional moments. She matches Ali’s performance and delivers equally heartfelt and comedic scenes. Although Giancarlo Esposito and Tramell Tillman have limited screen time, those brief moments show their characters challenge Latif’s devotion and blinded sense of justice.

The portrayal of fatherhood in media has become more emotional for me over the past year, so seeing Tariq and Ali bring Latif to life and make him this complex protagonist really hit home for me. I was drawn in by the action, but it’s the themes of religion and parenthood that really kept me invested in this story.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12. The film is coming to select theaters on September 25 and will have a wide release on October 9. Follow Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.