Parenthood

Plot

This feel-good ensemble comedy tracks a quartet of suburban siblings and their families over the course of a single summer. Hardworking Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) and his stay-at-home wife, Karen (Mary Steeenburgen), have just a few months to help their oldest son, Kevin (Jasen Fisher), overcome his high-strung behavior problems before he'll be relegated to special-education classes. Gil's difficult relationship with his own father, Frank (Jason Robards), has led him to become a would-be super-dad for his three kids, so he takes his son's difficulties more than a little personally. Gil's sister, Helen (Dianne Wiest), is trying to raise a moody, adolescent son (Leaf Phoenix) and an independent-minded daughter (Martha Plimpton) with no help from her well-off ex-husband, who's more interested in his new wife and family. Gil and Helen's sister, Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), meanwhile, must participate in the too-scripted Big Life Plans of her anal-retentive husband, Nathan (Rick Moranis), whose overachiever zeal infects even their toddler daughter. When long-lost brother Larry (Tom Hulce) show up with yet another get-rich-quick scheme, he brings with him a surprise addition to the family. Screenwriters Babaloo Mandel, Lowell Ganz, and Ron Howard negotiate their varied subplots with a deftness and comedic touch that transforms this conflicted clan into a suburban everyfamily. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Review

This fond and funny look at the travails of an extended middle-class family succeeds on the strength of its fine ensemble acting and the warm humor of its polished, only occasionally mawkish script. Director and co-writer Ron Howard, no stranger to blockbusters, guided Steve Martin to one of his biggest grosses -- and one of his most restrained, least wild-and-crazy performances -- by surrounding him with seasoned pros (Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis) and placing the frequent belly laughs in a believable emotional context. Dianne Wiest is particularly fine as the divorced, romantically frustrated single mom coming to terms with the burgeoning sexuality of her own children (Martha Plimpton, Leaf Phoenix), while old trooper Helen Shaw, as the brood's grandmother, strikes a precise balance between goofy and wise. The film's sweet-and-sour view of parenting may be idealized and its many subplots a little too easily resolved, but most critics and audiences found the combination of suburban angst, heartwarming characterizations, and bawdy humor irresistible. Rarely has a modern Hollywood comedy been so simultaneously poignant and hilarious. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Cast

• Steve Martin - Gil Buckman
• Mary Steenburgen - Karen Buckman
• Dianne Wiest - Helen
• Jason Robards, Jr. - Frank Buckman
• Rick Moranis - Nathan

Tom Hulce - Larry Buckman; Martha Plimpton - Julie; Keanu Reeves - Tod; Harley Jane Kozak - Susan; Leaf Phoenix - Garry; Helen Shaw - Grandma; Dennis Dugan - David Brodsky; Eileen Ryan - Marilyn; Jasen Fisher - Kevin; Paul Linke - George Bowman; Isabelle Cooley - Barbara Rice; Sherry Ferguson - Screaming Co-ed; Clint Howard - Lou; Rance Howard - Dean at College; Louisa Marie - Teacher; Hillary Matthews - College Student; Alisan Porter - Taylor; Ivyann Schwan - Patty; Max Elliott Slade - Young Gil; Lowell Ganz - Stan; Todd Hallowell - Track Official; Alex Burrall - Cool; Connie Adams - Cindy; Aspen Autrey - Dwarf; Jonathan Bouck - Dwarf; Lloyd Cleek - Miles; Billy Cohen - Eddie; Emil Felski - Doctor at Hospital; Greg Gerard - Dr. Lucas; Claudio Jacobells - College Student; Paul Keeley - Kevin, Age 21; Jordan Kessler - Matt; Richard Kuhlman - Young Frank; Julie Lander - Student in Hallway; Zachary Lavoy - Justin; Lamont Lofton - Fotomat Clerk; Dana Mark - Audrey; Michael Mickens - Dwarf; Janet Moore - Irate Woman in Audience; W. Bruce O'Donoghue - Umpire; Maxie Pontius - Safety Man at Track; Erika Rafuls - Amy; Charmin Talbert - Nurse at Hospital; Cindi Vicino - Teacher; Walter Von - Opposing Coach; Steve Zurk - Highway Policeman; Jane Jenkins; Janet Hirshenson

Credit

Christopher Nowak - Art Director, Louisa Velis - Associate Producer, Jane Jenkins - Casting, Janet Hirshenson - Casting, Ruth Morley - Costume Designer, Joe Napolitano - First Assistant Director, Ron Howard - Director, Daniel Hanley - Editor, Michael Hill - Editor, Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr. - Executive Producer, Randy Newman - Composer (Music Score), Fern Buchner - Makeup, Peter Wrona, Jr. - Makeup, Tom Priestley Jr. - Camera Operator, Todd Hallowell - Production Designer, Donald M. McAlpine - Cinematographer, Brian Grazer - Producer, Nina Ramsey - Set Designer, Kevin Harris - Special Effects, Bob Cooper - Special Effects, Richard S. Church - Sound/Sound Designer, Artie Malesci - Stunts, Robert Jauregui - Stunts, Lowell Ganz - Screen Story, Ron Howard - Screen Story, Babaloo Mandel - Screen Story, Lowell Ganz - Screenwriter, Ron Howard - Screenwriter, Babaloo Mandel - Screenwriter, Danny Rogers - Graphic Design

Previous:	Parental Guidance (2012 Film), Parental Guidance (1997 Film)
Next:	Parenting Children with Special Needs (1995 Film), Parenting Puzzle: Bedtime Blues - Stalling at Bedtime (1996 Film)