MAN OF THE HOUSE

US, 1995, 96 minutes, Colour.
Chevy Chase, Farrah Fawcett, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, George Wendt, Art La Fleur, Richard Portnow, Chief Leonard George.
Directed by James Orr.

Man of the House is a Disney comedy featuring popular stars of the time, especially Jonathan Taylor Thomas who starred in Home Improvement. Chevy Chase had been around for many decades in comedies. Farrah Fawcett had been a star with Charlie’s Angels.

The theme is a familiar one, a father walking out on his family with his secretary, mother and son bonding over the years, the mother eventually wanting to remarry but the son fearful that he will lose his mother.

The serious aspect and comic aspects of the film concern the boy and his antagonism towards his possible stepfather, a serious lawyer, Jack, who had gained the conviction of a drug dealer who then threatened him with death. The boy gets the idea of getting Jack into the Indian Guides, making it awkward for him and humiliating him. Nevertheless, Jack perseveres – but all comes to a head when the thugs pursue Jack in the forest and the boy has to help him to survive.

The film was very popular at the time, family audiences liking it and finding it very funny.

1. A Disney comedy about family? The background of divorce and remarriage, children and their fears? Possibilities for bonding?

2. The Seattle setting, the home, the law firm, the courts, the forests, action in the forest? The musical score? The range of songs?

3. The cast, Chevy Chase and his popularity, Farrah Fawcett from Charlie’s Angels? Jonathan Taylor Thomas from Home Improvement?

4. The opening situation, Sandy and Ben, the father and his girlfriend leaving, waving, disappearing? Ben at six? The next five years? In Seattle, the bond between mother and son?

5. Sandy, character, love for her son, deciding to remarry, the meeting with Jack, falling in love? His moving into the loft? trying to bond with Ben? Sandy fostering the relationship?

6. Ben, a touch precocious, memories of his father leaving, not wanting to lose his mother, antagonism towards Jack? His behaviour towards him, manner of speaking? At school, his plotting, the YMCA and the Indian Guides? Forcing Jack to become part of the group? The outings, in the forest, Jack and his awkwardness, being humiliated? Jack persevering? Camp storytelling?

7. Ben, his friends at school, Jack overhearing Ben boasting about what he had done?

8. Jack, continuing to go along with things, his hopes, outreach? His work in the court, Frank Renda, drug dealing, found guilty, and his threats, his son and his threats, his gangster associates? Plotting against Jack?

9. Jack and his discussions with Chet? Chet and his stepson, the same problems as Jack had, giving advice?

10. In the forest, Jack, the brakes on his car, going into Puget Sound, the thugs pursuing Jack in the forest, Ben and his realisation of the truth, collaboration with Jack, the other boys and the other fathers?

11. The farcical confrontation with the gangsters? But the happy ending – and everyone reconciled, the wedding, The Indian Guides present?