Parenthood

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Parenthood
DVD Cover for Parenthood (1989).
Directed by	Ron Howard
Produced by	Brian Grazer
Written by	Lowell Ganz Babaloo Mandel
Starring	Steve Martin Tom Hulce Rick Moranis Martha Plimpton Keanu Reeves Jason Robards Mary Steenburgen Dianne Weist
Cinematography	Donald McAlpine
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	August 2, 1989
Running time	124 min.
Country	US
Language	English
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IMDb profile

Parenthood is a 1989 film starring Steve Martin, Dianne Wiest, Dennis Dugan, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis, Tom Hulce, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, and Joaquin Phoenix (as Leaf Phoenix).

The film was directed by Ron Howard; story by Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel & Ron Howard, and screenplay by Ganz & Mandel. It was produced by Brian Grazer. Much of the film is based on the family and parenting experiences of Howard, Ganz, Mandel, and Grazer, who have at least 14 children among the four of them.

Parenthood was nominated for two Academy Awards: Dianne Wiest for Best Supporting Actress, and Randy Newman for Best Song (for "I Love to See You Smile").

The film was adapted into a television show in 1990. The show was a critical flop and was quickly cancelled, but is notable for featuring an unusual number of people who at the time were unheard of but later became hugely famous. One of the writers on the show was Joss Whedon. The cast featured child actors Leonardo DiCaprio, David Arquette, Alisan Porter, and Thora Birch. The show was featured on the now-defunct cable network Trio in 2005 as part of their "Brilliant But Cancelled" series of shows that were cancelled before their time.

1 Plot
2 Quotes
3 Trivia
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story revolves around Gil Buckman (Steve Martin), a 35-year old attorney trying to balance the pressures of raising a family in the suburbs of St Louis and succeeding in his career. Among Gil's issues is a family of relatives who all face their own issues related to family and raising children such as Gil's wife, Karen (Mary Steenburgen), his gruff father (Jason Robards) and an assortment of other relatives in a movie that raises the question: How easy is it to raise a family when you're also trying to have your own life?

Gil works as a lawyer, but never overworks himself, because he wants to be an active father, rather than a distant one like his own father was. His parenting skills are put under more pressure when he finds out that his wife is pregnant with their fourth child, and that one of their sons may have emotional problems and need to be placed in special classes or a private school. This may mean becoming the workaholic he despised his own father for being.

His sister Helen (Dianne Weist) is divorced, raising a son (Joaquin Phoenix) and daughter (Martha Plimpton) on her own. Her son is just beginning to go through puberty, and is upset about not being able to see his father. Her daughter is still in high school, but struggling. She is already having a sexual relationship with her boyfriend Tod (Keanu Reeves), and the two of them want to start their lives together, despite his life's lack of direction.

Gil's other sister Susan (Harley Jane Kozak) is a teacher with a husband (Rick Moranis) and a daughter. She wants more children, but her husband is obsessed with their daughter's cognitive development.

Finally, Gil's youngest sibling is his brother Larry (Tom Hulce) who, rather than settle into a career, has drifted through life trying to cash in on get rich quick schemes. Though he is the black sheep of the family, he is their father's favorite. He has recently shown up, along with his biracial son, Cool (who was the result of a brief affair with a Las Vegas stripper.), and wants to borrow money from his father for another of his get rich quick schemes and to pay off gambling debts. His father must decide whether to help him, or finally recognize that his son will never stop wasting his life.

[edit] Quotes

"What's wrong with getting rich quick? Quick is the best way to get rich!"

"You made me play second base!"

"It never ends (parenthood). It's like your aunt Edna's ass, it goes on forever and it's just as frightening."

Stripper: What's the birthday boy's name? Cuz I can write it across my breasts.

Gil: What's the matter, honey? You don't feel so good?

Taylor: Yeah.

Gil: You feel like you wanna throw up?

Taylor: O.K.

[barfs all over Gil's shirt, and starts to cry]

Karen: Oh Taylor, baby … Gil, why are you standing there?

Gil: I'm waiting for her head to spin around.

[edit] Trivia

The movie poster / DVD artwork was lampooned by the 1990 film Problem Child, another Universal Pictures release. Also, Dennis Dugan starred in this film, and then he directed Problem Child.
Birthday party in the movie was filmed at Mystery Fun House in Florida.
David A. Siegel, the owner of Westgate Resorts and Mystery Fun House, played the pizza delivery person.
The dream sequence of a clock-tower sniper was filmed at the University of Florida.
Back to the Future was seen on the cover of a VHS tape. Not only is it another Universal pictures release, Mary Steenburgen would be starring in the third sequel that came out the next year after this release.
At one point in the film, Gil says, "Maybe we should have a dozen kids!" Ironically, Steve Martin was in Cheaper by the Dozen in which his character actually did have a dozen kids.