Parental Guidance
Metascore
36 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 20
  3. Negative: 6 out of 20
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  1. Total Film
    Reviewed by: Emma Dibdin
    Jan 11, 2013
    20
    The kids are charmless, the writing is bland, and the embarrassing jokes sound like nails down a blackboard.
  2. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Sara Stewart
    Dec 26, 2012
    25
    Parental Guidance kicks off with a mean-spirited joke about an overweight woman and heads downhill from there.
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    Dec 26, 2012
    12
    It's hard to know who exactly Parental Guidance was made for.
  4. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    Dec 26, 2012
    16
    Parental Guidance is the abysmal grandpa/grandkids bonding comedy he's (Crystal) been destined to make since he first started creating new comedy with an unmistakable old-person smell.
  5. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Scott Bowles
    Dec 23, 2012
    38
    The movie spends too much time wedging the couple into a May-December moment, where Crystal cracks nostalgic about the good old days. It's sweet, but it grows old.
  6. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Tomas Hachard
    Dec 23, 2012
    12
    Andy Fickman's comedy offers a confused and flat portrayal of generational differences.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.7 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 7 out of 18
  1. Oroiael
    0
    Sad and stupid little movie. Billy Crystal must have naked photos of the studio execs in compromising positions. otherwise this film never gets made. I wanted to laugh but instead I was filled with a sense of loathing for Hollywood. This movie is worth seeing just to test your pain threshold. As a point of reference I also thought City Slickers was unfunny. Lighting your money on fire would be a better use of funds than investing in this garbage.… Full Review »
  2. emkadv
    6
    We went with our kids and grandkids (ages 12 & 14) to see this film and all of us liked it. It's not great art, nor does it break much new ground, but it made us all laugh. Parts of it are over the top, but there are parts that feel genuine. I had not expected to like it, but I did in spite of myself. The short scene at the end of the credits is worth waiting for.… Full Review »
  3. Lawgeek
    8
    Funny as hell I thought. Crystal, Midler and Tomei are spot on. So what if the story is schmaltzy. It made me laugh a lot. What's a comedy supposed to do?… Full Review »
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