Mother (1996) review

Immediately after L.A.-based sci-fi novelist John Henderson (Brooks) finalizes his second divorce, he wonders if his problems in life - which also includes the ol' Writer's Block - stem from a strained relationship with his widowed mother Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds), so he drives to Sausalito to stay with her and even puts his childhood bedroom back together (including old toys and posters), but his brother Jeff (Rob Morrow), a sports agent who's unhealthily attached to her, has an issue with the situation.  This can't help but feel like a midlife crisis comedy from Brooks (he was 49 at the time) who uncharacteristically writes his own character as a snippy grouch but does a nice job making Beatrice into a lady who has the appearance of someone who will bake you cookies and pat your ruffled hair but is actually passive-aggressive and has an edge to her (the Oedipal component allows for a few memorable jokes as well).  The manner in which it wraps itself up is disappointing, however: John discovers Beatrice once aspired to pen short stories (but "gave up her dreams"), "realizes" she's projecting this onto him (he's a "threat"), is "relieved" and, on the return trip to the City of Angels, meets an adoring fan at the gas station with in-depth knowledge of his "body of work."  Sure thing Al, you go with that....