Parenthood (film)

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.
Grandma

Parenthood is a 1989 comedy-drama film directed by Ron Howard and starring an ensemble cast including Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, Keanu Reeves, and Rick Moranis.

The film follows Gil Buckman (Martin) a neurotic man who works as a sales executive. Though he is constantly busy with his job, he wants to spend more time with his three kids and be a better father to them, especially since his own dad was distant and worked all the time. This soon gets worse as he finds out that his wife is now pregnant with their fourth child. Gil becomes worried if he will be able to handle this. To top it off, Gil begins seriously questioning his parenting skills as his oldest son Kevin enters therapy and his other two kids have some emotional problems as well.

Gil ends up having to spend more time at work not only due to an expanding family, but also because of the office politics where he works. His siblings deal with their own issues as well. Younger brother Larry refuses to grow up, dumping his problems - and son - on their aging parents. Helen deals with her daughter's too in-depth teenage romance and her son's abandonment issues. And Susan deals with her husband's harsh academic training of their preschool aged daughter.

It was twice adapted to television, first in 1990 and then again in 2010.

Tropes used in Parenthood (film) include:

Tod: I had a man around. He used to wake me up every morning by flicking lit cigarettes at my head. He'd say, "Hey, asshole, get up and make me breakfast." You know, Ms. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, or drive a car. Hell, you need a license to catch a fish! (shakes his head) But they'll let any butt-reaming asshole be a father.

  • Ensemble Cast: While Gil's family is the main focus, the film's charm comes from it's fully fleshed cast of characters that round out the extended Buckman clan.
  • Family Versus Career: Karen struggles with the idea of going back to work or staying home to take care of her kids. She mentions that others criticize her for liking her position as a homemaker.
  • Flash Forward: After putting Kevin on second base at a baseball game, Gil has two of these to Kevin's college graduation: in the first Kevin is confident and successful, but in the second (after Kevin failed to make a catch), he is at the top of a tower shooting at everyone in sight with an assault rifle.
  • The Gambling Addict: Larry.
  • Her Child, but Not His: Larry's son Cool.
  • Hidden Depths: Tod isn't as shallow as he seems. Grandma has her moments as well.
  • Imagine Spot: When Gil gets his anxiety-ridden child to feel confident enough to play infield, he imagines his son graduating from college a valedictorian, gratefully thanking his dad for his support. When his son's confidence is destroyed by a serious error, Gil has a different Imagine Spot of his child as a crazed clock-tower gunman.
  • I Need a Freaking Drink: When Julie offhandedly announces she's pregnant, one of the first things Helen does is head for the liquor cabinet.
  • Kids Are Cruel: Gil's concern about Kevin's possible placement in a special education class.

Gil: People are cruel. Especially children.

  • Lethal Chef: Helen teases Julie for her poor cooking skills.

Helen: (on Tod and Julie's marriage): I give them six months. Four if she cooks.

Taylor: Mommy what was that?
Karen: That was an electrical ear cleaner.
Taylor: It was kinda big.
Grandma: It sure was.