Being a mother is hard work. Justina Machado’s The Throwback, a hilarious family comedy about finding time for yourself, the power of familial love, and what it means to be a “supermom” can truly be summed up in that one sentence. But the movie isn’t just about the bad moments, or the crisis, it’s also about how to get through those and come out on the other side better.
Directed by Mario Garcia, the movie goes hard on the Latina mom stereotypes, but it does so in a way that feels organic. That’s one of the benefits of Latines telling their own stories – and it is perhaps what makes The Throwback a film that feels fun and dynamic instead of a biting criticism of a culture someone doesn’t understand. It’s kind of when they say I can make fun of my sister, but no one else can.
The Throwback is just that.
Because yes, there’s a lot to make fun of when it comes to the ways our community sometimes behaves – and we all know a mom like Kate. Is it a wonder she’d snap at some point? No. It’s a wonder she hasn’t snapped before if we’re being honest. She deserves to snap. In fact, part of me wanted her to just have fun. She deserved it. Someone else can figure out everything else for a change!
Of course, life doesn’t work like that, and there’s a lot to be said for balance, in storytelling and in real life, but The Throwback is still a really fun blend of actual commentary on what the Latine community truly is and just plain old fun. If there’s a message to be found in The Throwback, it’s not the type that will be in your face. Instead, this is the kind of movie you will just enjoy, and perhaps, when you’re done, you can think about it and go huh, you know, maybe I should appreciate my mom a little more.
Because yes, you could. Yes, I could. Honestly, we all probably could. Things won’t always go the way we want them to. And yes, life is often messier than we think it will be. But if you’re lucky enough to have the kind of “supermom” who is always there, then you don’t actually have a problem, not really. Even if, at times, it might feel like you do. You’re just lucky. And she? Well, she might just need a hug and a reminder that she can stop and be something other than your mom every once in a while.
Doesn’t mean she has to go join any wild parties or anything of the sort, it’s okay to start small. But putting yourself first is never a bad thing.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of The Throwback? Please share with us in the comments below!
The Throwback is available to stream on Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, and Vudu.
I LOVED this movie. It’s okay to put yourself first. You are only given one chance at life. Some of us go through life doing what we think is expected of us as a Mother and Wife. We find such great joys in helping, nurturing loved ones but in doing so we lose our own identity as the years go by, then the decades (if we are lucky). You find yourself feeling depressed and guilty for wanting more.