GETTING EVEN WITH DAD
US, 1994, 109 minutes, Colour.
Macauley Culkin, Ted Danson, Glenne Headley, Saul Rubinek, Gailard Sartain, Sam Mc Murray, Hector Elizondo, Kathleen Wilhoite, Ron Canada.
Directed by Howard Deutch.
By 1994 Macauley Culkin had become a significant screen presence, making the Home Alone series his own but then appearing in other films including Richie Rich and The Good Son where he appeared with Elijah Wood, to Elijah Wood’s acting reputation.
Perhaps Macauley Culkin peaked too quickly and did not have the career that was expected of him – and which his brothers, Kieran and Rory were able to achieve.
This is an amusing comedy, lines as well as slapstick, with Ted Danson as Macauley Culkin’s recalcitrant father, a criminal who spent time in jail, separated from his wife who has died, his son not seen but being brought up by an aunt (who is marrying and wants to leave the boy with his father while she goes on a honeymoon). In the meantime, Danson and his friends, Saul Rubinek, Gaillard Sartain have planned a robbery of gold coins which they execute but the boy is very shrewd, works out what has happened, hides the coins, works in cahoots with a detective, Glenne Headley, hoping that his father will relent and be happy to have him live with him and toe the straight and narrow (which is possible because he became expert at cake decoration during a course in prison).
The film is directed by Howard Deutch, director of light comedies including Some Kind of Wonderful.
1. A star vehicle for Macauley Culkin in the 1990s, the height of his screen popularity? His screen presence, appeal?
2. San Francisco, the views of the city, the streets, apartments, the police, shopping malls, sports, fairgrounds? The feel of the city? The musical score?
3. The title, Tim and his age, the death of his mother, living with his aunt, dislike of her husband, being landed on his father? Age, capabilities, shrewdness? Ray, criminal, separated from his wife, her death? Separated from Tim? No correspondence? His time in prison?
4. Ray, prison time, learning to cook, his skill in decorating cakes? The issue of the coins, his plan? His contact for fencing the coins? His friendship with Bobby and Carl, ex-prisoners, the decision to be in on the heist? Bobby, frenetic, eager, the contrast with Carl, large, fond of eating, sometimes slow, genial? The map, the details of the plan?
5. The introduction to Tim, in the back of the car, his aunt and the fiance, Tim and his filming, the driver upset, almost crashing? His aunt’s wedding? Her bringing him to Ray? Her carefree attitude, leaving?
6. Ray and his reaction, the reaction of his friends and their surprise? Reacquainting himself with his son, the tensions? The prospect of the heist?
7. The three, the plan, going out, the execution of the plan, success, the escape? With the coins?
8. Tim, observant, listening in, doing a lot of filming (and later discovering Therese’s presence) finding the newspaper article, the hiding of the coins on the roof, Tim taking them, hiding them in the Niki bag? Confrontation with his father, his hold over his father, his list of enjoyment in San Francisco, the promise to tell them the location of the coins?
9. Carl and his enjoying the outings, learning something, the contrast with Bobby getting more and more enraged? All the slapstick comedy and his being the victim? Pratfalls, objects hitting Bobby, and the attempts of robberies in the church, there arrest, in the cells?
10. The outings, the aquarium, the fairground, the baseball game, shopping, meals, the rollercoasters…?
11. The police, Therese and her information, research, with the Chief, with her partner, following Ray and the group, becoming more interested, caught, Tim and his invitations, her accompanying them on the excursions, the criticisms by her partner, by the Chief, going out to dinner? Talking with Ray, Tim and his present of the perfume?
12. Tim and confronting his father with the dilemma, the coins or his living with his father? Ray, the decision, Tim giving him the key, packing, Therese’s visit? Going to the bus station, buying the ticket? Tim on the bus? Ray going to the locker, reflection, making the decision, taking Tim off the bus? Bobby and the confrontation with the gun – and his arrest? Carl watching
and walking away?
13. Ray and the arrest? His reaction to Therese as a cop? Tim and the talk with her, the information about the location of the coins, her picking them up? The chief and his being satisfied with? Carl watching on the television – free?
14. Ray, the charges dropped, time with Tim – and hopes for Therese in the future?
