<<

Search: News & Quotes Jobs Login Register Subscribe Enter a term, stock symbol or company name Search Select City Help

Home News Commentary Business Investing Sports Life Arts Technology Drive Site Map Film Television Books Celebrity Music Theatre Visual Arts Awards Video Film Reviews And get unlimited access TRY GLOBE UNLIMITED - 1 MONTH FOR JUST 99¢ on all your devices See my opttiions!!

Home » Arts » Film » Film Reviews

FILM REVIEW Parental Guidance: Blame the squeeze generation

LIAM LACEY The Globe and Mail Published Tuesday, Dec. 25 2012, 4:00 PM EST Last updated Tuesday, Dec. 25 2012, 5:21 PM EST

/ 0 comments 3 1 2 0 0 Print AA License

Directed by Andy Shortly after he gets fired from his job as a minor- Fickman league baseball announcer, Artie Decker (Billy Crystal) Written by Lisa Addario and his wife Diane () get a chance to EDITORS' PICKS and Joe Syracuse spend time with their three grandchildren. Their Starring Billy Crystal, worry-wart daughter Alice (Marisa Tomei) and her GLOBE INVESTOR Bette Midler and Marisa inventor husband Phil (Tom Everett Scott) have been Why housing prices aren't coming back Tomei invited to a convention/getaway, so Alice reluctantly Classification G asks her parents to babysit for five days. SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Country USA Editor's letter: Enjoying Canadian winter, Language English Parental Guidance is one by the book of those LIFE intergenerational Adrenaline rush! The Globe goes embarrassment comedies tobogganing – and gets some expert tips in the Meet the Fockers WATCH line, where children can Parental Guidance: GLOBE INVESTOR enjoy seeing grown-ups official trailer Take it from Einstein, it's all about looking ridiculous. compounding Seniors, meanwhile, can chuckle along with Artie’s bewilderment over such MOST POPULAR VIDEOS » phenomena as tofu, Twitter and kids’ baseball games designed to end in a tie. Alice stands as the mid-generation audience’s representative here – she gets hives just thinking about her boisterously vulgar parents. In an early scene, she offers some helpful advice to her trio of coddled kids – the perfectionist 12-year-old Harper (), timid, stuttering eight-year-old Turner (Joshua Rush) and Barker (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf), a five-year-old hellion with a trouble-making imaginary NEWS NEWS friend. B.C. teacher suspended Politician attacked after after showing risque allegedly raping a Unable to bear the thought of exposing the kids to her parents, Alice makes an Christmas video to woman in India excuse to come back home early from her planned sexy time with hubbie, so she Grade 4 class hangs around for a few more scenes. Predictably, Artie’s and Diane’s old-school, carefree/careless parenting style is at odds with her neurotically precious house rules, which include “three put-ups” for every “put-down” and a ban on the words “don’t” and “no.” When the family goes to a restaurant, it’s “Pan-Asian,” not Chinese, and the restaurant’s owner (Gedde Watanabe) is a silly gent who says “Oy vey” and believes that Barker’s imaginary kangaroo friend is real. NEWS LIFE Brazilian woman Close-up with a cougar: As well as a meditation on changing generational customs, Parental Guidance is a auctions off her B.C. man snaps photos reminder of all those things that we have in common, especially below the belt. virginity to care for of elusive wild cat Artie gets hit in the crotch by both a water gun and a baseball bat (he counter- ailing mother strikes by projectile-vomiting his chili dog). , Barker urinates from the top of a ◀ ● ● ▶ half-pipe at a skateboarding event, causing cameo star Tony Hawk to wipe out in a pee puddle. There’s also a touching scene as grandpa sings a song to help his constipated grandson squeeze one out in the men’s room at a baseball game. HIGHLIGHTS

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com Director Andy Fickman, who previously made the cross-dressing basketball comedy She’s The Man and the Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson comedy The Game Plan, follows Crystal’s lead as the comedian riffs through scenes with a glazed, mock- incredulity, tossing out one-liners as if listening to some private Catskills rhythm track. Though Midler breezily trades quips with him at the same tempo, her REPORT ON BUSINESS REPORT ON BUSINESS character feels sketchy here, as a former good-time weather gal whose main Why cold Canada is Use of rewards program project is to transform her earnest 12-year-old granddaughter into a pubescent becoming a hot spot for inspires entrepreneur's hussy. data centres restaurant idea

Tomei, in the doubly thankless role of ungrateful daughter and over-controlling Free Obituaries Search mom, at least wins a sympathy vote and serves as a cautionary example. Parents of Obituaries.Archives.com young children, be guided: Go book a hotel and have some naughty fun. This 1) Type In Someone's Name 2) Find Their Obituary Instantly! movie isn’t for you, although it’s possible it will serve as a meeting point for your Coffee Exposed elders and youngers. www.CoffeeFool.com A shocking secret coffee co's don't want you to know 0 comments Find Your Old High School www.classmates.com / View profiles for Free. Reconnect & Reunite. 3 1 2 0 0 Print AA License Man Cheats Credit Score www.thecreditsolutionprogram.com 1 simple trick & my credit score jumped 217 pts. Banks hate this!

MOST POPULAR STORIES

1. Why housing prices aren't coming back

2. Olivia Chow diagnosed with viral infection that causes partial face paralysis

3. Iceland bans girl from using birth name, legal battle ensues

4. Ottawa surprises ambassadors; Minister says it is freezing aid to Haiti

5. First nations leaders hopeful for progress after Harper’s offer to meet

MORE TOP STORIES

LEADERSHIP COMMENTARY MORE SPORTS VIDEO AUTO NEWS GAMING NEWS Why you should ditch How cargo ships repel Canada’s Erin How to do a perfect GM recalls 6,300 The best video games long hours and learn unwanted passengers Mielzynski races to Downward Dog SUVs and trucks in you’ll be playing in to dance bronze in women's Canada for roll away 2013 slalom risk

VIDEO PHOTOS

Chief says she will fast Should all health care Google finds at In God the Vatican TV: Five shows worth Best pictures from the until meeting with workers get a flu shot? the FTC trusts, everyone else watching tonight past 24 hours Harper pays cash

Globe Unlimited Get The Globe and Mail Unparalleled journalism. Unflinching insight. the way you want it. Unlimited access to Canada's #1 newspaper site. Experience Canada's deepest coverage of national, international, business, and lifestyle Subscribe Now news where you want, when you want. See all Globe Products

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com Home More Sections Globe Plus Online Privacy Policy News Subscribe Help Accessibility Policy Appointments Contact Us Commentary Art Store Terms & Conditions Business Births & Announcements Globe Recognition Disclaimer Investing Careers Recognition card Newspaper About Our Newspaper Sports Globe Campus Globe Arts is part of The Globe and Mail's Advertise Customer Care Globe Life Network Life Classifieds Classroom Edition Advertise with us Contact Us Arts Deaths Newspaper Staff © Copyright 2013 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Technology Newspaper Ads Magazine Corrections Reserved. Drive Real Estate Online Subscribe 444 Front St. W., Toronto, ON Canada M5V 2S9 Special Reports Marketing Solutions Group Vacation Stops Site Map Phillip Crawley, Publisher Globe sustainability Media Central Change Address Classifieds

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com