Parenthood (1989)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Lowell Ganz (story) &
Babaloo Mandel (story) ...

Release Date:

2 August 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

It could happen to you.

Plot:

The Buckman family is a midwestern family all dealing with their lives: estranged relatives, raising children, pressures of the job, and learning to be a good parent and spouse.

Plot Keywords:

Scheme | Teen Angst | Social Adjustment | Parent | College

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Gil Buckman
Dianne Wiest	...	Helen Buckman
Dennis Dugan	...	David Brodsky
Mary Steenburgen	...	Karen Buckman
Paul Linke	...	George Bowman
Jason Robards	...	Frank Buckman
Rick Moranis	...	Nathan Huffner
Tom Hulce	...	Larry Buckman
Martha Plimpton	...	Julie Buckman
Keanu Reeves	...	Tod Higgins
Harley Jane Kozak	...	Susan Buckman (as Harley Kozak)
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Garry Buckman-Lampkin (as Leaf Phoenix)
Eileen Ryan	...	Marilyn Buckman
Helen Shaw	...	Grandma
Jasen Fisher	...	Kevin Buckman

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Gainesville, Florida, USA

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Trivia:

When Grandma inhales the helium balloon and says that when she was born, Grover Cleveland was president. Helen Shaw (the actress who played her) was born on July 25, 1897, just four months and three weeks after the end of Cleveland's second term.

Goofs:

Continuity: Helen is sitting in the chair, looking at the pictures, Julie comes in and they begin to argue. When Julie runs to her bedroom and Helen jumps out of the chair, the pictures fly all over the floor. In the next scene, when Julie is picking up the pictures, they are dropped in one pile on the floor.

Quotes:

Frank: You know, when you were two years old, we thought you had polio. Did you know that?
Gil: Yeah, Mom said... something about it a couple of years ago.
Frank: Yeah, well, for a week we didn't know. I hated you for that.
[Gil looks surprised and hurt]
Frank: I did. I hated having to care, having to go through the pain, the hurt, the suffering. It's not for me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "ER: Parenthood (#13.4)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Pigs In Zen

Thoroughly enjoyable comedy drama

Parenthood is a thoroughly enjoyable comedy drama that you feel doesn't take as many convenient short cuts as many family movies do. Everyone has a colorful family to some extent; most (I hope) are full of good natured people but there are always rotten apples floating around.

Director Ron Howard puts many lives on display and different challenges each one faces and every one of these inspections have something to offer. Steve Martin's reactions to his older son's adjustment problems are very well realized, with many humorous moments, to be sure, but at the core is a maturely handled and moving segment, and Martin has rarely been better.

Diane Wiest's family drama consists of her inability to communicate properly to her two teenage children; the daughter a temperamental rebel with a "loser" boyfriend, the son a nearly recluse loner with raging hormones who thinks something is wrong with him (what guy hasn't been there at least once?). Superb performances form Wiest and (yes, surprisingly) Keanu Reeves really fuel this story which never loses itself despite seeing many humorous aspects in a rather depressing household.

Jason Robards plays the family father who hasn't been all that good to his children since...well ever, and he faces a tough assignment when he has to admit to himself that one of his children, who has learned the most from him, is heading into disaster fast. The scene where he asks Steve Martin for advice is a moving scene in so many ways; it's never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks.

Rick Moranis's tale of his insanely intellectual daughter is my least favorite but it does have a very charming conclusion. And that granny is priceless.

Parenthood may be even better for those who have children and can identify with some situations depicted here but as for me, I think I can learn a thing or two for years to come.