Parenthood (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Director Ron Howard's 1989 comedy/drama 'Parenthood' focuses on the 3 generations of the large, dysfunctional, but loving Buckman family. The film is insightful, hysterical, but also poignant in its moments of truth-telling about the joys, sorrows, trials, tribulations & tenderness that families can bring. The narrative focus is on businessman Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) & his delightful, idyllic wife, Karen (Mary Steenburgen), & the great difficulties that arise raising their 3 eccentric children. Gil is a good dad & determined to do a better job than his somewhat neglectful father of 4, Frank (Jason Robards). Frank showed more love to his useless youngest son, Larry (Tom Hulce), which left Gil feeling emotionally deprived through most of his life.
Therefore when the elementary school principal appropriates Gil's son, Kevin (Jasen Fisher), for a Special Ed program/ school psychologist counseling for his social anxiety issues ... Gil fights back; devoting extra-time to doting on his troubled son. To this, Gil fears that Kevin's issues reflect on him as a father. Gil's unhappy sister, Helen (Dianne Wiest), is divorced from a loveless marriage & has her hands full raising her 2 teens. 16 yr. old Julie (Martha Plimpton), is secretly sleeping with her sweet, but dumb-as-a-stump, lowlife boyfriend, Tod (Keanu Reeves). All the while, Helen's sullen, taciturn, porn-obsessed 13 yr. old, Garry (Joachin Phoenix), treats his mother with contempt - wanting to visit with his father {who doesn't want him around}.
Gil's other sister, Susan (Harley Kozak), is a teacher whose obnoxious, bossy hubby, Nathan (Rick Moranis), has become so obsessed with raising a perfect child that he forces his precocious 3 yr. old daughter to be a child intelligence prodigy. The kindly grandma (Helen Shaw) gets relocated from her son's (Robards) house to live with Gil, when unexpectedly, Frank's wayward 26 yr. old son Larry pops-up home with an illegitimate black son named Cool (Alex Burrall) and, is fearful that bookies will kill him if he doesn't pay them his steep gambling debts. Comedic stretches & serious drama ensues.
This highly entertaining movie reveals the euphoric highs & crushing lows of the emotional roller coaster ride that is ... parenting. Through a plethora of wacky & wonderful moments, the vast cast imbues what it means to be part of a large family. Steve Martin is great as the manically over-dedicated dad. Sure, he gives us his usual comedic antics, but so, too, does her bring gravity to the more serious family debacles. Highlights include him trying to coach his son's Little League team, and at Kevin's birthday party, winningly entertaining the kids as a cowboy when the real hired cowboy fails to show-up. Also stellar is Jason Robards who, at age 64, realizes with much humility & sorrow that parenting his wayward son, Larry, is a lifelong tribulation.
I loved Steve Martin's easy chemistry with Mary Steenburgen's Karen. Helen Shaw steals scenes as the family matriarch, hard-of-hearing, but truth-telling grandma. But best of all, for me, was the quartet of Dianne Wiest {who brings SUCH love, exasperation & brittle humanity to Helen}, Martha Plimpton {the teen daughter who you want to throttle, but also hug to 'make it all feel better'}, Joaquin Phoenix {who breaks your heart upon the realization that his absent dad wants to remain absent} & Keanu Reeves {who plays lovably dumb so very well}. This film is a minor masterpiece in showing the universal joys, pitfalls & quandaries of parenting. Troubles abound, but good humor prevents doom & gloom. 'Parenthood' engages, delights & gives knowing insights in equal measure.
Therefore when the elementary school principal appropriates Gil's son, Kevin (Jasen Fisher), for a Special Ed program/ school psychologist counseling for his social anxiety issues ... Gil fights back; devoting extra-time to doting on his troubled son. To this, Gil fears that Kevin's issues reflect on him as a father. Gil's unhappy sister, Helen (Dianne Wiest), is divorced from a loveless marriage & has her hands full raising her 2 teens. 16 yr. old Julie (Martha Plimpton), is secretly sleeping with her sweet, but dumb-as-a-stump, lowlife boyfriend, Tod (Keanu Reeves). All the while, Helen's sullen, taciturn, porn-obsessed 13 yr. old, Garry (Joachin Phoenix), treats his mother with contempt - wanting to visit with his father {who doesn't want him around}.
Gil's other sister, Susan (Harley Kozak), is a teacher whose obnoxious, bossy hubby, Nathan (Rick Moranis), has become so obsessed with raising a perfect child that he forces his precocious 3 yr. old daughter to be a child intelligence prodigy. The kindly grandma (Helen Shaw) gets relocated from her son's (Robards) house to live with Gil, when unexpectedly, Frank's wayward 26 yr. old son Larry pops-up home with an illegitimate black son named Cool (Alex Burrall) and, is fearful that bookies will kill him if he doesn't pay them his steep gambling debts. Comedic stretches & serious drama ensues.
This highly entertaining movie reveals the euphoric highs & crushing lows of the emotional roller coaster ride that is ... parenting. Through a plethora of wacky & wonderful moments, the vast cast imbues what it means to be part of a large family. Steve Martin is great as the manically over-dedicated dad. Sure, he gives us his usual comedic antics, but so, too, does her bring gravity to the more serious family debacles. Highlights include him trying to coach his son's Little League team, and at Kevin's birthday party, winningly entertaining the kids as a cowboy when the real hired cowboy fails to show-up. Also stellar is Jason Robards who, at age 64, realizes with much humility & sorrow that parenting his wayward son, Larry, is a lifelong tribulation.
I loved Steve Martin's easy chemistry with Mary Steenburgen's Karen. Helen Shaw steals scenes as the family matriarch, hard-of-hearing, but truth-telling grandma. But best of all, for me, was the quartet of Dianne Wiest {who brings SUCH love, exasperation & brittle humanity to Helen}, Martha Plimpton {the teen daughter who you want to throttle, but also hug to 'make it all feel better'}, Joaquin Phoenix {who breaks your heart upon the realization that his absent dad wants to remain absent} & Keanu Reeves {who plays lovably dumb so very well}. This film is a minor masterpiece in showing the universal joys, pitfalls & quandaries of parenting. Troubles abound, but good humor prevents doom & gloom. 'Parenthood' engages, delights & gives knowing insights in equal measure.