Parental Guidance - A Movie Review

Better get ready. Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit this week!

Parental Guidance arrived in theaters in 2012. Desperate to go away on a vacation, Alice reluctantly asks her parents to watch their kids. Starting off as hectic, the week opens everyone's eyes for the better.

Parental Guidance shares a soft spot in my heart. The message about having a relationship with your grandparents is integral. All families should watch this film. The first time I saw it in theaters it made me laugh, tear up, and appreciate my grandparents all the more.

Billy Crystal and Bette Midler had the time of their lives working on this film. They worked tremendously together. I loved the scene where they performed ‘The Book of Love.’ Crystal had the best comedic timing. Both Crystal and Midler developing connections with their grandchildren was wonderful.

Every family is different. As the Simmons, Marisa Tomei and Tom Everett Scott did an excellent as the parents who run around in every direction to keep their kids together. I always enjoy Tomei’s performances. She does a good job playing the underdog who has hidden strengths.

Tomei and Crystal studied their interactions closely for their scenes. No matter the age, it is possible to regrow a bond. While Alice had most of the limelight, I felt that Phil was underwritten. He could have been used in the story more, along with more interactions with his in-laws.

As the children, Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush, and Kyle Breitkopf were impressive. Each battling their own insecurities, the interactions they each share touching interactions with the grandparents.

I have always been a fan of Madison. She continues to be a strong actress, but this film was a highlight for her career as a child. Rush showed audiences that you should never let any obstacle stop you from being who you are. Breitkopf was adorable, especially when he was interacting with his invisible kangaroo friend, Carl.

One element that I wish the film expanded more on was the relationship between the siblings. We don’t get enough interactions between them. Writers should have incorporated more sibling moments so we could understand their dynamic. The individual subplots of their insecurities overshadowed that.

Sure, we get a few moments, but I would have liked to have seen a subplot or scene where the siblings weren’t getting along. I know the film is all about relationships between children and parents/grandparents, but it would have been nice to have a scene that involved how important it is to have a sibling.

Anybody can grow and learn no matter the age. That’s the best message Andy Fickman influences to audiences. Every parent has their own dynamic and way of communicating with their children. As established in Parental Guidance, it is important to use our words so that nobody feels left out.

Parental Guidance is a hilarious film, but it incorporates too much in the middle half. It forces too much comedy. There were obvious moments of filler just to see what else the grandparents and the kids could get themselves into next.

This Thanksgiving, be thankful for your grandparents. They have taught us several key lessons and they are always here to listen to us. The ending of Parental Guidance always brings me to tears. This is my favorite film to watch, especially around Thanksgiving. It had a lot of heart and it is genuine.

I recommend Parental Guidance to all grandparents and their grandchildren no matter the age. It's a fun watch. You will have a great time.