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Parental Guidance

Name: Parental Guidance
Genre: Comedy
Released: December 25, 2012
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 36
Cast: Bailee Madison, Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, Joshua Rush, Kyle Harrison Breitkopf

2012

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 20 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 90 Ratings

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5.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 90 Ratings

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PARENTAL GUIDANCE

Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: December 25, 2012 | PG

Starring: Bailee Madison, Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, Joshua Rush, Kyle Harrison Breitkopf, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott

Summary: When his daughter goes away for work, a grandfather finds himself having to take care of his three grandkids using 21st century methods -- though he soon resorts to an old-school style of parenting.

Director: Andy Fickman

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Dec 26, 2012

Parental Guidance is an engaging comedy that bridges multiple generation gaps, making it that rare movie that grandparents, their kids, and their kids can enjoy. Read full review

Arizona Republic Bill Goodykoontz

Dec 25, 2012

This is the first time in ages some of the old stand-up Crystal shows through, flashes of quick wit instead of Borscht-belt antics. Not to the extent that it used to in such movies as "When Harry Met Sally ..." (which was, ahem, 23 years ago). But better than you'd expect...Just like the movie. Read full review

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

Dec 31, 2012

The pathos: considerable. The sight gags, involving Crystal puking chili dog on a kid's face, or the grandson with an imaginary friend peeing and causing an X Games skateboarder to wipe out: artless. The results: tolerably amusing. Read full review

Austin Chronicle Leah Churner

Dec 26, 2012

The actors deserve credit for the professionalism they bring to this stinker, especially Tomei, who plays it straight as a contemporary have-it-all-or-die-trying mom, and Midler, who's given little to do, but works up an amusing backstory about her days as a good-time gal on the evening news. Read full review

Mary Pols

Dec 26, 2012

I can't deny I did feel fonder of my own family afterward, mostly because I know none of them would ever make me sit through Parental Guidance. Read full review

USA Today Scott Bowles

Dec 23, 2012

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. Read full review

Slant Magazine Tomas Hachard

Dec 23, 2012

Andy Fickman's comedy offers a confused and flat portrayal of generational differences. Read full review

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User Reviews

wearetheothers

Jan 7, 2013

epic

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

Haloman259

Dec 26, 2017

This is a must for all kids that are over the age of 7. A really funny movie with Billy Crystal (voice of Mike on monsters inc.). It's really funny, and is mostly on FX or FXM.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

fantasy

Jan 12, 2013

This is a very nice family movie. Gone With The Wind it isn't but Billy and Bette get along famously. It only goes to prove that all of us have dysfunctional families and it's OK. A nice way to spend some time with the kids in the movies. Go and enjoy.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

DCEdmonds

Nov 13, 2014

"Parental Guidance" 10 Scale Rating: 5.0 (Mediocre) ...

The Good: There were a few moments that I would call "cute" and I even chuckled a time or two. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler did a solid job as quirky grandparents. I enjoyed the backhanding of new age parenting somewhat ... The"Parental Guidance" 10 Scale Rating: 5.0 (Mediocre) ...

The Good: There were a few moments that I would call "cute" and I even chuckled a time or two. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler did a solid job as quirky grandparents. I enjoyed the backhanding of new age parenting somewhat ...

The Bad: ... but the state of the family involved was way too over the top, complete with children that had every issue that you can think of. The screwball grandparents didn't seem like the problem, though the film at times tried to reinforce the notion that they were. It also felt like a sitcom as opposed to a movie, complete with musical cues. I kept waiting for the laugh track to play.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Jul 19, 2013

It's hard for me to hate on a family friendly movie with a sweet side like this one, especially when movies are getting super vulgar now days. But Parental Guidance fails to bring laughs and fails to hook you with it's emotional side. This makes the movie super boring. Add in the fact thatIt's hard for me to hate on a family friendly movie with a sweet side like this one, especially when movies are getting super vulgar now days. But Parental Guidance fails to bring laughs and fails to hook you with it's emotional side. This makes the movie super boring. Add in the fact that this is aimed at families with kids of all ages and its failure makes it all the more sad. As much as it pains me to say Parental Guidance is not worth your time. You can safely pass on this one.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

analogkid280

Jan 10, 2013

Crystal and Midler have both done great films in the past so what happened? Not much in this movie. Your typical crude in poor taste comedy, except this one is not funny either. Crystal's classic one liners over the situation around him are kept to a minimum and the life the kids have isCrystal and Midler have both done great films in the past so what happened? Not much in this movie. Your typical crude in poor taste comedy, except this one is not funny either. Crystal's classic one liners over the situation around him are kept to a minimum and the life the kids have is less realistic than a cartoon. This movie plays out like a poor Adams Family sequel where the good actors were replaced by poor low paid imitators. The poopie song was kinda funny though so I bumped it up to a 3.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Thegodfatherson

Feb 15, 2013

Billy crystal in a crappy kids film? Seriously....... This was a really bad film. Very bad. It was not even a great kids film...... It's was garbage. The end is predictable, the kids don't make everything funny and billy crystal sucks at being a grandpa. 0/10 for me. I suggest you stay awayBilly crystal in a crappy kids film? Seriously....... This was a really bad film. Very bad. It was not even a great kids film...... It's was garbage. The end is predictable, the kids don't make everything funny and billy crystal sucks at being a grandpa. 0/10 for me. I suggest you stay away from this film...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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