This Ron Howard hit, written by fellow family men Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, is an original comedy about contemporary life and the eternal responsibilities of raising children. Steve Martin has never been better than as a dedicated husband and father trying (and inevitably failing, as do most of us) to balance the demands of his kids and his job.
The actor, like his character, throws himself into the part quite touchingly, never more so than in a scene where a hired clown fails to show up at a children’s party and Martin’s character unabashedly provides the entertainment.
Good as Martin is, this is actually an ensemble piece with numerous actors playing members of the same family, with cross-generational joys and disappointments in the air–and parents in conflict, children in love, and so on. Jason Robards is very good as a patriarch who finally accepts the reality that the son he adores (Tom Hulce) is a major screwup.
Parenthood is a laugh-out-loud look at the perils and rewards of family. Everyone will recognize someone they know in the imperfect children, crazy relatives, and inevitable dysfunctional family member. The film’s charm is its familiarity. And it’s nice to see characters that don’t react to every disappointment by trying to control everyone involved.
The cast is wonderful. Gil, the earnest, lovable, and slightly neurotic father, is the perfect role for Steve Martin. In notable supporting roles, Jason Robards is suitably cantankerous as the family patriarch, and Keanu Reeves is affable as a flakey boyfriend. Parenthood is funny, realistic, and a great stress-reliever for anyone who has had it up to the gills with family.
Character to watch: Steve Martin as Gil Buckman.
Journal your answers to the following questions after you watch the movie.
- How does this particular character’s journey compare with yours?
- Did the character develop certain characteristics during the movie that you have or that you would like to have? If so, what are those characteristics?
- What obstacles did this character face? What was his or her biggest challenge?
- What would you have done differently if you had been in the same position as the character?
- Is this character the type of person you would be friends with? Why or why not?