Parenthood (1989)
Ah, family. They can be some crazy fuckers sometimes, eh? Such is the case with the Buckman family; and our story seems to center around Gil (Steve Martin). While striving to make partner at his firm, he is forced to spend most of his time concentrating on his neurotic 8-year-old son, Kevin, who has some emotional issues and is being forced into special ed. Despite Gil’s best attempts to relate to his son, like coaching baseball and throwing awesome cowboy-themed birthday parties, there is no getting past the fact that his kid needs help. His youngest son enjoys butting things with his head, and his relationship with his wife is suffering due to his own worries about life. He is concerned that he will end up being a shitty father, just like his dad was to him
Gil’s divorced sister Helen, has issues of her own involving her two kids. Her son Gary is a distant lad and chronic masturbator, who desperately needs a father figure in his life, while his sister Julie is an equal mess. She is in a relationship with a guy whom her mother doesn’t like, and her mother’s discovery of some sex pics doesn’t help the situation. Julie movies out with her boyfriend Todd (Keanu Reeves), and soon returns home… married and pregnant.
Gil’s other sister Susan, is married to a guy (Rick Moranis) who has very high academic standards for their daughter… their 4-year-old daughter. Susan desperately wants a normal family and to have another baby, but her hubby is just focused on their kid’s education and not on the idea of ‘family’.
That just leaves us their kid brother, Larry. To put it lightly he is a fuck-up, big time. He always has a get rich quick scheme and is always borrowing money. He shows up at his parent’s doorstep with investment ideas and a surprise guest, a love child named Cool. Larry soon wears out his welcome as he is in to some bookies for a ton of scratch, and asks his father for the money. As his dad is prepared to make a huge sacrifice, Larry skips town leaving the burden of his young kid on his parents. We told you he was a fuck-up!
Through all of these issues, as well as some others that include songs about poop, a sex toy misunderstanding and a drag race accident, the family is able to grow together and help each other out.
Alex’s Thoughts: Parenthood is one of those movies that will always have a place in my heart. I can remember watching this as a kid as liking it, even though I didn’t get half of the jokes. It’s just one of those movies where you instantly connect with the Buckman’s as you go on this rollercoaster of highs and lows with them. I don’t really have too much else to say, other than this is just a great movie in my eyes. Alex Rates This Movie 9/10
Tim’s Thoughts:Give me Steve Martin, and Rick Moranis any day of the week. I love watching this movie, and it hits even harder since I’ve joined the ranks of being a parent. Steve Martin in bathroom mats and a cowboy hat will forever be one of my favorite mental images of what a cowboy should look like. Not much else I can say other than SEE THIS! Tim Rates This Movie 10/10
“You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, to drive a car – hell, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they’ll let any butt-reaming asshole be a father.”
View the IMDB entry for this movie here or add it to your Netflix queue
