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Parenthood (1989)
Released By: MCA Universal Home Video   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MCA Universal Home Video
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Ron Howard
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, Keanu Reeves, Mary Steenburgen, Rick Moranis, Steve Martin
Published ID: 931
UPC: 025192017421, 025193236524, 025192029905,
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, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
GREAT FAMILY MOVIE
Added 8/31/2009

Parenthood (Special Edition)

Great service from Amazon, as always!!!!
Super good family movie!!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A lot of misery for a comedy
Added 7/20/2009

I am definitely in the minority here, but for me this movie didn't work. The cast is incredible and the acting is really, really good but I just didn't find the situations that funny. Steve Martin is one of my favorite actors and I enjoyed watching him as well as all the other siblings as they interacted. The acting alone would have lead me to give a 5-star rating.

What bothered me was so many of the "humorous" situations weren't humorous. The disfunction in many cases was so over the top as to be bothersome -- one character was such a juvenile delinquent and so messed up that you could envision him taking a gun to school and opening fire (I didn't find that funny).

TO PARENTS: Everyone describes this as good, clean fun and while that is true for parts of the movie, it often was anything but clean. There are multiple scenes in the movie that are totally inappropriate for kids and I was caught off-guard by that. I watched this with my family (including my 14-year-old) and we ended up fast-forwarding through some sections since the topics were very racy and VERY graphic.

Wanted to like it, but didn't.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Forget "Cheaper By The Dozen"; this one's the real deal!
Added 7/19/2009

This has become one of my favorite Ron Howard films. Steve Martin has done family fare before--such as the recent "Cheaper By The Dozen" films--but "Parenthood" seems closer to reality as it chronicles the successes & failures of family life. Martin is brilliant as usual as a man struggling to juggle his job with parenting...and failing spectacularly as it so often happens in real life. Martin gets first billing, but he is supported by a superb supporting cast. Dysfunction runs rampant among brothers, sisters, children, parents & grandparents. There is much to laugh at, and much to identify with. Martin's character declares at one point that "life is so messy". How true! And Mary Steenburgen's character later counters with: "What do you want? Guarantees?" Also so true. The film's script seems to just say that life is what it is, and you can only do what you can as a parent.
Funny, touching and insightful...and boosted by many terrific performances.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Satisfied customer
Added 4/18/2009


Great movie delivered on time and in promised condition (and sold for a reasonable price).

0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Parenthood: have enjoyed both the movie and the experience!
Added 3/29/2009

I enjoyed this movie when it first came out and it is still one that I like to watch periodically (which is why I owned it on VHS and now on DVD). The cast is great, the performaces good (despite that one over-the-top Steve Martin scene)and it is generally a joy to watch.
Like the experience of being a parent, it has both high and low moments. At times thought provoking, "Parenthood" strikes a good emotional balance.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
GREAT FAMILY MOVIE
Added 8/31/2009

Parenthood (Special Edition)

Great service from Amazon, as always!!!!
Super good family movie!!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A lot of misery for a comedy
Added 7/20/2009

I am definitely in the minority here, but for me this movie didn't work. The cast is incredible and the acting is really, really good but I just didn't find the situations that funny. Steve Martin is one of my favorite actors and I enjoyed watching him as well as all the other siblings as they interacted. The acting alone would have lead me to give a 5-star rating.

What bothered me was so many of the "humorous" situations weren't humorous. The disfunction in many cases was so over the top as to be bothersome -- one character was such a juvenile delinquent and so messed up that you could envision him taking a gun to school and opening fire (I didn't find that funny).

TO PARENTS: Everyone describes this as good, clean fun and while that is true for parts of the movie, it often was anything but clean. There are multiple scenes in the movie that are totally inappropriate for kids and I was caught off-guard by that. I watched this with my family (including my 14-year-old) and we ended up fast-forwarding through some sections since the topics were very racy and VERY graphic.

Wanted to like it, but didn't.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Forget "Cheaper By The Dozen"; this one's the real deal!
Added 7/19/2009

This has become one of my favorite Ron Howard films. Steve Martin has done family fare before--such as the recent "Cheaper By The Dozen" films--but "Parenthood" seems closer to reality as it chronicles the successes & failures of family life. Martin is brilliant as usual as a man struggling to juggle his job with parenting...and failing spectacularly as it so often happens in real life. Martin gets first billing, but he is supported by a superb supporting cast. Dysfunction runs rampant among brothers, sisters, children, parents & grandparents. There is much to laugh at, and much to identify with. Martin's character declares at one point that "life is so messy". How true! And Mary Steenburgen's character later counters with: "What do you want? Guarantees?" Also so true. The film's script seems to just say that life is what it is, and you can only do what you can as a parent.
Funny, touching and insightful...and boosted by many terrific performances.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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