Parenthood (film)

Parenthood is a 1989 American comedy-drama film with an ensemble cast that includes Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Joaquin Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, and Dianne Wiest.

The film was directed by Ron Howard, who assisted in developing the story with screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. Much of it is based on the family and parenting experiences of Howard, Ganz, Mandel, and producer Brian Grazer, who have at least 17 children among the four of them. Principal photography was filmed in and around Orlando, Florida with some scenes filmed at the University of Florida. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Dianne Wiest for Best Supporting Actress and Randy Newman for Best Song for "I Love to See You Smile".

The film was adapted into a NBC television series on two separate occasions, in 1990 and again in 2010. While the first series was cancelled after one season, the second series ran for six seasons.

Plot
Gil Buckman (Steve Martin), a sales executive, is trying to balance his family and his career. When he finds out that his eldest son, Kevin (Jasen Fisher), has emotional problems and needs therapy, and that his two younger children, daughter Taylor (Alisan Porter) and youngest son Justin (Zachary La Voy), both have issues as well, he begins to blame himself and questions his abilities as a father. When his wife, Karen (Mary Steenburgen), becomes pregnant with their fourth child, he is unsure he can handle it.

Gil is also frustrated and fearful that the financial burdens of another child and office politics at work are turning him into the detached workaholic he despised his own father, Frank (Jason Robards), for being. Humbled by family and work issues, Gil opens up to Frank about his doubts as a parent. Frank tells him that he worries too much, and the two have a reconciliation of sorts with Frank telling Gil that worry for one's children never ends.

Gil's sister, Helen (Dianne Wiest), is a divorced bank manager whose ex-husband wants nothing to do with their kids, Garry (Joaquin Phoenix) and Julie (Martha Plimpton). Garry, who has just entered puberty, is quiet, withdrawn, and likes to be alone in his room with a mysterious paper bag. At first Helen worries that the bag contains drugs or alcohol, but it actually contains pornography.

Julie is still in high school, but is not interested in her education. She and her boyfriend, Tod (Keanu Reeves), get married, Julie becomes pregnant, and Tod moves into Helen's house. Helen asks Tod to talk with Garry, believing he would be more comfortable confiding to another male. Tod is able to reassure Garry that his obsession with girls and sex is normal for a boy his age, to Garry's relief. This also increases Helen's respect for Tod. Eventually, she supports Tod and her daughter's relationship to the extent that when Julie wants to break up with him, Helen orders her to face her fears and work on their relationship.

Gil's other sister, Susan (Harley Kozak), is a middle school teacher married to a scientist, Nathan (Rick Moranis). They have a precocious daughter, Patty. Susan wants more children, but Nathan is more interested in their daughter's cognitive development. Susan lashes out by compromising her diaphragm as a plan to get pregnant against Nathan's wishes. She eventually gets so frustrated that she leaves him. Nathan eventually comes to one of her classes and serenades her to win her back, promising her he will try to change. Susan agrees to move back home.

Larry (Tom Hulce), Gil's brother, is the black sheep of the family, but is Frank's favorite. Rather than settle into a career, he has drifted through life trying to cash in on get-rich-quick schemes. He has recently shown up, along with his biracial son, Cool (Alex Burrall) (The result of a brief affair with a Las Vegas Showgirl), asking to borrow money from his father. It soon becomes apparent that Larry needs the money to pay off his gambling debts, or else he must pay with his life. Frank is disillusioned, but still loves him and tries to help. Frank refuses to bail him out completely, but offers to teach him the family business so he can take over for Frank, who has to put off retirement, and uses the income to pay off the debt. Larry instead suggests another get-rich-quick scheme which involves him going to Chile. Frank agrees to look after Cool, knowing that Larry will most likely never return.

The family is reunited at the hospital when Helen gives birth to a baby girl. Frank holds his grandson, Cool. Tod and Julie are together, raising their son. Susan is visibly pregnant. Gil and Karen are now the parents of four.

Cast

 * Steve Martin as Gil Buckman
 * Dianne Wiest as Helen Buckman
 * Mary Steenburgen as Karen Buckman
 * Jason Robards as Frank Buckman
 * Rick Moranis as Nathan Huffner
 * Tom Hulce as Larry Buckman
 * Martha Plimpton as Julie Buckman
 * Keanu Reeves as Tod Higgins
 * Harley Kozak as Susan Buckman-Huffner
 * Eileen Ryan as Marilyn Buckman
 * Joaquin Phoenix (as Leaf Phoenix) as Garry Buckman-Lampkin
 * Helen Shaw as Grandma
 * Jasen Fisher as Kevin Buckman
 * Paul Linke as George Bowman
 * Alisan Porter as Taylor Buckman
 * Zachary La Voy as Justin Buckman
 * Alex Burrall as Cool Buckman
 * Max Elliott Slade as Young Gil Buckman

Box office
The film opened at #1 in its opening weekend, earning $10 million. It eventually grossed over $100 million domestically and $126 million worldwide.[2]

Critical reception
Parenthood received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 93% "Certified Fresh" rating, based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Bolstered by a delightful cast, Parenthood is a funny and thoughtfully crafted look at the best and worst moments of family life that resonates broadly."[3] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 82 out of 100, based on 17 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim."[4]

It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Dianne Wiest for Best Supporting Actress and Randy Newman for Best Song for "I Love to See You Smile". It was also nominated by the American Film Institute for their ''100 Years... 100 Laughs''series.[5]

Television adaptations
The film was adapted twice to TV: as a 1990 series and again in 2010.

1990 series
Main article: Parenthood (1990 TV series)

Parenthood was one of many failed movie-to-TV adaptations in the 1990–91 season, also including Baby Talk on ABC's TGIF (a follow up to Look Who's Talking), Ferris Bueller on NBC and Uncle Buck on CBS.[6] It ran for 12 episodes and was not renewed for a second season.

2010 series
Main article: Parenthood (2010 TV series)

In April 2009, filming began on a new television adaptation loosely based on the film.[7] Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia play the parents, joined by Peter Krause, Mae Whitman, Erika Christensen, Dax Shepard, Lauren Graham and Monica Potter.[8] It ran for six seasons and the finale aired January 29, 2015.