The Mother  ★★½

JENNIFER Lopez is always up against it

All actors have to convince you they are a character; but Lopez also has to first make you believe you aren’t watching Jennifer Lopez the music star.

Theres no doubt she can deliver a strong performance with the right material, such as in 2019’s Hustlers.

But in action thriller The Mother she has to play a former marine sniper turned criminal and it’s just not the role for her.

She handles the emotional stuff well enough, but looks pretty unconvincing when asked to shoot, fight and kill people.

Joseph Fiennes, Paul Raci and Gael García Bernal are also all given standard material and fail to make impressions.

It’s a slightly average actioner that I don’t think will generate a franchise.