Connect with us

Film

‘Parenthood’ – A Feel-Good Movie with Some Pretty Bleak Visions of Life

How often do we see a feel-good movie with some pretty bleak visions of parenthood?

From the director of Splash, Willow and Cocoon and screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (Night Shift and Splash), comes Parenthood, a funny and well-crafted look at the best and worst moments of family life. This feel-good ensemble comedy, bolstered by a delightful cast, tracks four generations of suburban siblings and their families over the course of a single summer. Ron Howard directs this multi-generational suburban soap effortlessly, a feat, given the number of characters we’re expected to follow and care about. Parenthood is a delicate balancing act between comedy and drama, managing to make you laugh without ever sacrificing character development for cheap punch lines. The movie runs the gamut of realistic emotions and tackles sensitive subjects like abortion, teenage pregnancy, greed, selfishness, abandonment, and failure. For a PG-13-rated comedy about life, love and the challenge of raising children, Parenthood doesn’t ever shy away from some dark, disturbing subplots. This is one of the best ensemble pieces to ever come out of Hollywood and Howard and Co. achieve greatness by never allowing the film to lapse into sitcom territory. The Buckman family is comprised of an extensive and entertaining ensemble cast, some of whose careers have since dwindled, and others who have gone on to do great things. At its center is Steve Martin in a career-defining role. Others include Gil Buckman, Rick Moranis, Dianne Wiest, Harley Kozak, Tom Hulce, Leaf Phoenix, Martha Plimpton, and yes, Keanu Reeves as the burn-out son-in-law. Keanu is there, simply to inject an edge, and while his role is a minor one, he no less participates in what is probably the most fully-realized film in the director’s oeuvre. Parenthood is a near-masterpiece.

Written By

Some people take my heart, others take my shoes, and some take me home. I write, I blog, I podcast, I edit, and I design websites. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Goomba Stomp and Tilt Magazine. Host of the Sordid Cinema Podcast and NXpress Nintendo Podcast. Former Editor-In-Chief of Sound On Sight, and host of several podcasts including the Game of Thrones and Walking Dead podcasts, as well as Sound On Sight. There is nothing I like more than basketball, travelling, and animals. You can find me online writing about anime, TV, movies, games and so much more.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook

Trending

Ghostface Killah Sets Long-Awaited Classic “Supreme Clientele” Sequel Release Date & It’s Closer Than You Think

Celebrity

Kendrick Lamar Beats Drake For Album Of The Year At The BET Awards

Celebrity

Andor Creator Tony Gilroy Doesn’t Consider A Key Rogue One Relationship Canon

Film

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Renewed for Fifth and Final Season

Film

Simon Guobadia Reportedly Deported To Nigeria After Porsha Williams Drama

Celebrity

Fat Joe accused of sex acts with minors in $20 million lawsuit filed by former hype man, rapper denies allegations

Celebrity

The Met’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ Reframes Ancient Tragedy Through the Lens of Propaganda

Film

Lil Wayne “Tha Carter VI” Review

Celebrity

Silento Breaks Silence After Getting Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Killing His Cousin

Celebrity

Tyler Perry Pops Out At Beyonce Show In Paris Amid Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Celebrity

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Review: The Best Trek In Decades Doesn’t Miss A Beat

Film

Mello Buckzz’s Boyfriend Shot-&-Killed During Her Mixtape Release Party

News

F1 Review: Brad Pitt’s Sports Drama Has Exciting Racing Scenes And A Bloated Runtime

Film

Trippie Redd Reportedly Arrested In Miami For Mysterious Reasons

Celebrity

Eminem’s Stalker Gets Lengthy Prison Sentence For Home Invasion

News

15 Best Military Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Film

Connect