Parenthood

Name: Parenthood
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: August 2, 1989
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Steve Martin

1989

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 63 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 63 Ratings

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Parenthood

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: August 2, 1989 | PG-13

Starring: Steve Martin

Summary: Gil Martin is a funny and loving husband who's also tries too hard to be the "perfect" parent to his uniquely different kids. (Universal Studios)

Director: Ron Howard

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 124 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Ron Howard's Parenthood is a delicate balancing act between comedy and truth, a movie that contains a lot of laughter and yet is more concerned with character than punch lines. Read full review

Gene Siskel

Ron Howard's first-rate dramatic comedy Parenthood, with Steve Martin headlining a first-rate cast in a most clever script about the joy and pain of being both a parent and a child. [4 Aug 1989, p.A]

Staff (Not Credited)

Parenthood, heartfelt and howlingly comic, also comes spiced with risk and mischief. Just when you fear the movie might be swept away on a tidal wave of wholesomeness, a line, a scene or a performance poke through to restore messy, perverse reality. Read full review

Empire Caroline Westbrook

A funny and touching look at the joys of family life. Read full review

Julie Salamon

The picture sets up high expectations for itself with its wonderful casting, and the actors don't disappoint. [1 Aug 1989, p.1]

Staff (Not Credited)

An ambitious, keenly observed, and often very funny look at one of life's most daunting passages, Parenthood's masterstroke is that it covers the range of the family experience, offering the points of view of everyone in an extended and wildly diverse middle-class family. Read full review

Mike Clark

The borderline Parenthood is either an iffy comedy with lots of compensations, or a good comedy with more irritating flaws than most movies manage to survive. Whichever, the "feel good'' infantry of summer-film escapists will probably love it. [2 Aug 1989, p.5D]

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User Reviews

moviemonger

Jul 30, 2011

Ron Howard has a way of churning out films and becoming some sort of wallflower. In this film, Howard stands tall for one reason - you know he is a parent and he wants to tell a story about parenting. The characters in this film are so real, touched with a sprinkle of far-fetchedness forRon Howard has a way of churning out films and becoming some sort of wallflower. In this film, Howard stands tall for one reason - you know he is a parent and he wants to tell a story about parenting. The characters in this film are so real, touched with a sprinkle of far-fetchedness for comedy's sake - but you realize that this stretch is cleverly planted to drive a message home. That message? Parenting is not always easy. Life is not always easy. But, the ride is what builds character, understanding, and, ultimately the ability to love unconditionally. Steve Martin blends comedy and straight-laced acting perfectly. Dianne Weist is fantastic, as usual. I left the theater feeling good about, not parenting, but, instead, daily interaction with life's bumps and bruises.… Expand

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KaseyS

Feb 15, 2010

To this day, I still believe that this is Ron Howard's best film. I've seen this movie dozens of times over the last 20 years and it never gets old. So many poignant moments, the laughter making the drama more intimate, the drama making the comedy more personal. This movie was way To this day, I still believe that this is Ron Howard's best film. I've seen this movie dozens of times over the last 20 years and it never gets old. So many poignant moments, the laughter making the drama more intimate, the drama making the comedy more personal. This movie was way ahead of its time.… Expand

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heeldavid

Sep 18, 2014

Ron Howard's Parenthood is well made Comedy-Drama, Steven Martin stars in one of his best and mature roles, Dianne West is very good as a mono parental woman. Many great performances and a great screenplay

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Masada

Jul 27, 2019

You couldn't have a more simple setting, but the movie is laden with characters that don't bore. "Life is messy", but this movie guides the rollercoaster that it is along the tracks very nicely. Martin is a bit too out there in some scenes for me, but the whole cast ties it togetherYou couldn't have a more simple setting, but the movie is laden with characters that don't bore. "Life is messy", but this movie guides the rollercoaster that it is along the tracks very nicely. Martin is a bit too out there in some scenes for me, but the whole cast ties it together perfectly for me.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Jan 24, 2021

One of the best comedies of 1989.
This clever, multi-layered film's greatest strength is taking the often mundane and turning them into hilarious moments.

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Compi24

Feb 29, 2020

You won't have to look far into the deepest recesses of the cineaste crowd to found someone with a "hot take" on Ron Howard. Many find his films plain, lacking in thematic depth and sometimes just downright inferior in quality. With a movie like "Parenthood," however, you're reminded of justYou won't have to look far into the deepest recesses of the cineaste crowd to found someone with a "hot take" on Ron Howard. Many find his films plain, lacking in thematic depth and sometimes just downright inferior in quality. With a movie like "Parenthood," however, you're reminded of just how many good ones there really were for the filmmaker, especially in the late eighties and early-to-mid nineties. This is an -- at times -- masterful exercise in ensemble storytelling, all built around a kernel of thematic content that's so endearing and relatable, it's hard not to get caught up in the up's and down's of these (fictional) characters' very hectic lives. Featuring a veritable who's who of talent all throughout, you're given well acted yarns involving love, life, child-rearing and worthwhile commentary on the numerous relationships that can occur within one big family. Toss in some occasional directorial flourishes from Ron Howard and you end up with a thoroughly entertaining, stunningly contemporary look into the complexities that can occur within an American family.… Expand

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lasttimeisaw

Jun 7, 2014

What leads me to watch this film is Dianne Wiest’s singular Oscar-nomination, how rare a mainstream comedy stars Steve Martin could generate an Oscar-caliber performance? Is it as eccentrically diverting as Marisa Tomei in MY COUSIN VINNY (1992, 7/10) or a rowdy and raunchy scene-stealer asWhat leads me to watch this film is Dianne Wiest’s singular Oscar-nomination, how rare a mainstream comedy stars Steve Martin could generate an Oscar-caliber performance? Is it as eccentrically diverting as Marisa Tomei in MY COUSIN VINNY (1992, 7/10) or a rowdy and raunchy scene-stealer as Melissa McCarthy in BRIDESMAIDS (2011, 7/10)? Neither is the case here, thus the answer could only be that it is Academy’s honeymoon period with Wiest, who has just won an Oscar 3 years earlier for Woody Allen’s HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1986, 8/10) and would harvest her second trophy pretty soon in another Allen’s satire BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (1994, 8/10).
continue to read my review on my blog, google cinema omnivore.… Expand

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