Parenthood, written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel and Ron Howard, directed by the latter - 8.8 out of 10

Parenthood, written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel and Ron Howard, directed by the latter
8.8 out of 10


The intricacies, complex web of relationships within the Buckman family make for a very amusing, if sometimes dramatic motion picture, nominated for two Oscars and a number of other coveted trophies.

Steve Martin, masterful, charming, comical, resourceful, admirable, relatable, magician as always, has the leading role of Gil, the epitome of Parenthood...
Well, making exception of moments when we have a paradigm shift and the responsible, reliable father forgets himself and, in one instance he refuses to contemplate having yet another baby, at least for a while, and then he seems to jeopardize the financial stability of the family by quitting his job in acrimony.

As for the latter incident, we have to admit that the situation was complicated, at the very least, since the man had been struggling at the firm for a long time, only to see someone else get the promotion, because that rival has been willing to do anything for major clients, take them out at night, getting them laid...
Which is not just politically incorrect at the present, but simply anathema...I guess.

That is a practice for the Middle Ages, or the Middle East in its less advanced quarters, presumably warring Yemen, Syria or Iraq.
However, in the context of this comedy from 1989, the trafficking- I guess that would be the label used today - of sexual favors afforded the competition a better position that Gil doesn't get and thus has a fight and leaves the company, only to find his wife, Karen, is expecting a baby.

Furthermore, she is not the only one in the extended family, for young Julie is pregnant too.
And too precocious for that, if we consider the continuous fights she has with her wild boyfriend, Tod aka Keanu Reeves, and the rather irresponsible behavior manifested by this couple, in which the boy takes part in dangerous racing...in one event, he has an accident.

Nonetheless, it is Larry aka Tom Hulce - who has given us a Supreme Gift in the role of Divine Mozart in the Magnus opus Amadeus, directed by the glorious Milos Forman - that comes close to dying.
Larry was the favorite son of Frank aka legendary Jason Robards and has always been tempted by ludicrous, unfortunate, cataclysmic sometimes schemes that had been supposed to bring fortunes.

In the latest enterprise, he has encountered some rogue individuals, thugs that throw him out of a speeding car, where he is seen by his father.
Larry reminds this viewer of always lying Trump, although the former is somewhat amusing, as opposed to the latter, who is ridiculous, vain and able to repeat over the years, for many times, that he has never heard of a category five hurricane...

Ok, you have never heard once...but twice?!
Then many times?!

America, you have elected and many of you still support a nut case, a demented, narcissistic clown.