LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

US, 1987, 96 minutes, Colour.
Dudley Moore, Kirk Cameron, Margaret Colin, Catherine Hicks, Patrick O'Neal, Sean Astin.
Directed by Rod Daniel.

Like Father, Like Son is yet another vice versa comedy. This time it's surgeon Dudley Moore and teenage son Kirk Cameron. It's a bit: if you've seen one, you've seen them all. Dad discovers what it's like to be his son, son appreciating,-father. It is amusing but predictable. 1987-88 saw a number of this kind of film including Vice Versa, 18 Again and the much more successful Big with Tom Hanks.

1. The popularity of the vice versa theme? Plausible? Fantasy?

2. Los Angeles, the desert sequences, the musical score?

3. The premise, the prologue in the desert, the experience of the vice versa? The desert, the journey into the desert to find the antidote, the resolution? The ironic ending?

4. The doctor and his work, his relationship with Ambruster and his ambitions, his sexy wife and her advances, Amy and her idealism? His decisions about his future? The change, his being in Chris's body, at home, his reaction to his son in his own body, credit card? Going to class, his superiority, the track and the running, the date, getting advice from Trigger, his blowing his son's chances in the athletics? His going to the interview in his son's place? The change back? The meetings, the future at the hospital, Amy's support? Telling off Ambruster? The reconciliation with Chris?

5. Chris as teenager, bored by his father's taking him over medical matters, his own boring class, his skill at running, the possibility of a date, the clash with the athlete? Friendship with Trigger? The change? In his father's body, going out with the credit card, the night out, at home the loud music, enjoying himself at the hospital, having to punch the patient, at the vote and at the board meetings, his taking principled stances, Amy's support, his apprehension with Ambruster's wife and her advances, the fire, into the desert, fainting at the birth? The change and trying to support his father and rectify the situation? His understanding his father?

6. The sketch of Trigger, his friendship, advice? Able to help in the crises? Taking them into the desert to get the antidote?

7. Ambruster and his power, his hold over the doctor, his wife, Amy, the committee work, the vote?

8., People's reaction to the changed doctor: the interns, the patients? The reaction to the different Chris in class? The coach, his failure at the race?

9. The parallels of the two stories, each learning, the resolution? Chris's final speech? The end?

10. The irony and the athlete experiencing the vice versa?


11. A humorous fable?