PARENTHOOD
US, 1989, 124 minutes, Colour.
Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Diane Wiest, Jason Robards, Tom Hulce, Keanu Reeves, Martha Plimpton, Rick Moranis.
Directed by Ron Howard.
Parenthood is a serious comedy about American values, especially the family, in the '80s. It was written by Lowell Ganz and Babballoo Mandell, collaborators with director Ron Howard in such films as Nightshift and Working Class Man. They focus on several generations in the one family, in-laws, tangled relationships, love, coping.
The film was directed by Ron Howard, successful director of such films as Nightshift, Splash, Cocoon, Willow. The acting is excellent. Steve Martin has the opportunity to be serious (with some comic interludes worked into the plot). Mary Steenburgen is very good as his wife, Diane Weist (Oscar-nominated) as one of his sisters. Other members of the cast include Rick Moranis as an eccentric brother-in-law who wants to teach his little daughter according to contemporary trends. Tom Hulce is the irresponsible young man. Martha Plimpton and Keanu Reeves represent the younger generation while Jason Robards is the father.
There are many comic moments, many serious moments - and finally an affirmation of family and life values.
1.A portrait of an American, white middle-class family. The bonds, successes and failures? A portrait of the late '80s?
2.The work of Ron Howard and his writers, their perception of the family? The suburban locations, homes, workplaces, little league baseball? Authentic middle-American locations?
3.The structure of the film, the ensemble work of the cast, the various stories and the strands coming together? Editing and pace? Musical score?
4.The title: the various generations, the examples, the end and the new baby generation?
5.The focus on Gill: Steve Martin and his presence and style? The opening fantasy with the young boy at the baseball match, talking to the amalgam? His father leaving him be on his birthday? Love of baseball? Gill's further imagination: his son and the successful valedictory and his acknowledging the crowds? Contrast with his son as the sniper on the university campus? The experience of Gill at the concert and the roller-coaster?
6.Gill as serious and comic? His relationship with his wife, love? The importance of baseball and his love for it? The opening match, taking the family home, the hazards of getting the children in the car, settled at home? The comic touches with the family (Justin and the cowboy belt, etc.)? The bonds? His work, pressure, his boss wanting him to dazzle him with success, his anger at the promotion of the partner, his quitting, his being invited to come back, the small raise? His wife as mother, wife and liking it, possibilities of going to work? The decisions made between the two? Their love and concern for Kevin, in the bedroom, worrying about him? The interview with the school principal and the psychologist, their arguments? The decision about special education, the therapist? The problems with the daughter, with Justin banging his head? The little league and the boys blaming Kevin for his failure, his father forcing him to play? The training, the final match, Kevin's successful catch and his joy? Visits to the various homes, seeing the family within the wide family context? Dinners, play, gifts? Gill and his clash with his father, his father consulting him about the money for Larry? Gill as Cowboy Dan, the performance for the children, adding the gory details, getting them all together, the shooting - and Kevin's enjoyment of his birthday? His wife becoming pregnant, their arguing about having the child? Work and financial support? The final concert, Justin making the mistakes, the roller-coaster experience? His seeing his wife as enjoying the roller-coaster and the risks? His wanting to take risks?
7.Helen, living alone, her dentist ex-husband? Gary and his odd behaviour, going out with his paper bag, no communication? Gary missing his father, ringing him, his father's rejection of him? Sad, vandalising his office? Helen breaking down the lock, looking at his room, the videos? The discussion with Todd and his help? Gary befriending Todd, playing together, the speedway and the accident? Julie and her age, study, discussions with her mother, Todd under the bed, the photos and their sexual activity? Arguing and leaving the house? Her return, her mother referring to `that Todd'? The revelation of their marriage? Moving in, living with Helen, her coping, Gary's anger? Julie and her demands? Helen and Julie - and driving the men from the home? Todd and his trying to measure up, the pressure of his brothers, his job? His success with Gary? Julie's pregnancy? Helen, alone, the incident with the vibrator? The consequences? The biology teacher, the date? His witnessing the clash in the family? Her own pregnancy and birth?
8.Susan, marrying her husband, his making her settle down? Patsy and the adult talk? Stress on her intelligence, the quizzes, not being allowed to play? Trendy health diets and foods? The child as over-rational, the visits to the rest of the family? Susan's growth, becoming a teacher? Her showing the cards to her husband and leaving? His reaction, over-serious, his reaction to the rest of the family, getting his daughter to learn Spanish? His going to the classroom and singing `Close To You' - and the reconciliation, the class applause?
9.Larry, his arrival in the middle of the dinner, the various reactions? His background, smooth talk, incessant talk, confidence tricks? His father's support? The sudden arrival of Cool - and the explanations? His bond with the others, his being thrown out of the car, his debts, the gambling, taking his father's car? The confrontation, agreeing to his father's plan for work, blaming his father for making him special? The proposition about Chile? His father letting him go, his abandoning Cool?
10.The father, his neglect of his children, especially Gill? His comment about emotional demands and Gill's polio illness when a child? His severity and rudeness to his wife, mother-in-law? His talk about drinking at their weddings? The relationship to each of the children, grandchildren? His car, his love for Larry, spoiling him? Seeking Gill's advice, the final stances with Larry, letting him go? Taking Cool and bringing him into the family?
11.The grandmother and her wisdom, her stories, agreeable, moving from house to house and the visits, her remarks about the sex video, her story about the roller-coaster - and its application to Gill and his wife?
12.Old family values and new family values? Relationships, permissiveness, tradition? Possibilities, love, responsibility, joy? The final sequences of giving birth, the family and all the babies? The next American generation?
