Written by James M. Tate / 12/31/2012 / No comments / 2012 , bette midler , billy crystal , marisa tomei
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
year: 2012 cast: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler rating: ***1/2 |
Well the tables have turned, and how those tables have changed…
Billy Crystal is now a grandpa. He and wife Bette Midler have three grandkids from daughter Marisa Tomei, who raises her brood in an extra cautious, politically correct environment, revved up a few notches since her husband has designed a state of the art house protected by a virtual nanny, something straight out of THE JETSONS. Yet all this “high falutin” stuff serves only one purpose: to show how a sixty-something like Crystal, as Artie Decker, and Midler, as Diane, are completely lost in the new age.
Some examples are: the oldest son plays on a baseball team where there are no outs and no winners. For Artie, a baseball sportscaster that just lost his job, this makes no sense. Other situations include the twelve-year-old daughter being forced to play violin without having a social life… But the biggest obstacle is the youngest son, who makes that china shop bull seem like a graceful swan.
The best scenes have Artie and Diane, finally free of being scrutinized by daughter Alice, taking on this new generation with old school practicality and bluntness. A surprisingly subdued Midler is more of a sidekick here, taking backseat to Crystal – this is really his vehicle.
With a good heart, Artie does all the wrong things: from providing his grandkids a birthday cake (they’re progressive health nuts); taking the youngest to a skateboard park; and a crazy night at a classical music concert. With something disastrous around every corner, Crystal successfully wields his signature put-upon countenance on a noticeably aged face.
Despite too much talky downtime towards the conclusion – each character discussing their lessons learned as if the audience wasn’t aware – this is a lightweight comedy that really hits the spot.
Oh and there’s a pretty blatant message intact: the older it is, the better!
Labels:
2012,
bette midler,
billy crystal,
marisa tomei
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