Tanya’s Score: Good-and-a-half*
Rated: PG-13
Starring: that white-haired funny guy; Elf’s step-mom; the grandma from Life in Pieces; Joaquin back when he was Leaf; Johnny Utah
Plot: This movie follows the Buckman family – the grown up siblings along with their marital problems and parenting challenges.
Tanya’s Verdict: This is one of those movies that has changed for me. Don’t get me wrong – I loved it the first time I saw it – in the theatre alongside my parents and brother (I was 15 years old at the time). In my memory, it was a hilarious comedy: a vibrator at the dinner table – always good for a laugh.
Only now, as a grown up with kids of my own, I see Parenthood for what it really is. The story of marriage and kids – condensed into a two hour movie – but very authentic nonetheless.
Parenthood is dated in the sense that no character is glued to their phones; characters get their film developed at a photo mat; porn comes in the form of video tapes; and bosses smoke cigarettes at their desks.
But all that aside – 30 years later – kids are still getting in trouble, people are suffering from anxiety, marriages are rocky. And life goes on.
Grandma sums it up best – both the movie and life in general: it’s a roller coaster ride – with ups and downs, excitement and stress, unexpected twists and happy turns. “I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.”
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great