This was highly entertaining but ultimately a bit of a missed opportunity. Octavia Spencer was marvellous - I think in pretty much anyone else's hands this would've just been complete trash, but her facial expressions and line readings were just brilliant.
It did feel like it sat somewhat awkwardly between being a full-blown camp fest and something a bit more nuanced. There are times when you genuinely do feel for Ma a bit, but that's almost entirely down to the performance I feel, the writing lets her down a tad.
None of the other main characters are worth talking about at all, they're all total generic incredibly stupid teenagers who make the wrong choice at every turn. Juliette Lewis is fun as the mum but does't get much to do. Missi Pyle is hilarious in the two or three scenes she gets but is otherwise wasted. Alison Janney presumably turned up on set one day out of boredom, that or 95% of her role ended up on the cutting room floor for some reason.
Definitely worth a watch, I was chortling thoughout, but not quite what it could have been.