Plot
Artie and Diane agree to look after their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents need to leave town for work. Problems arise when the kids' 21st-century behaviors collide with Artie and Diane's old-school methods.
Release Year: 2012
Rating: 5.8/10 (1,865 voted)
Critic's Score: 36/100
Director:
Andy Fickman
Stars: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei
Storyline Old school grandfather Artie (Billy Crystal), who is accustomed to calling the shots, meets his match when he and his eager-to-please wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents (Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott) go away for work. But when 21st century problems collide with Artie and Diane's old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old-fashioned games, it's learning to bend - and not holding your ground - that binds a family together.
Writers: Lisa Addario, Joe Syracuse
Cast: Billy Crystal
-
Artie Decker
Bette Midler
-
Diane Decker
Marisa Tomei
-
Alice Simmons
Tom Everett Scott
-
Phil Simmons
Bailee Madison
-
Harper Simmons
Joshua Rush
-
Turner Simmons
Kyle Harrison Breitkopf
-
Barker Simmons
Jennifer Crystal Foley
-
Cassandra
Rhoda Griffis
-
Dr. Schveer
Gedde Watanabe
-
Mr. Cheng
Tony Hawk
-
Himself
Steve Levy
-
Himself
Cade Jones
-
Ivan Halloran
Mavrick Moreno
-
Cody
Madison Lintz
-
Ashley
Opening Weekend: $14,800,000
(USA)
(30 December 2012)
(3367 Screens)
Gross: $29,589,000
(USA)
(30 December 2012)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Quotes:
[from trailer]
Harper Decker Simmons:
[with a mouthful of cake]
Yogurt not like ice cream! You lied!
User Review
Nice Family Comedy, You Won't Be Disappointed
Rating: 8/10
When Alice (Marisa Tomei) and Phil (Tom Everett Scott) have to leave
town for an influential business trip, they are forced to entrust their
three hellion children to Alice's parents, the equally hellion Artie
(Billy Crystal) and Diane (Bette Midler). Hilarity ensues.
You watch a movie with Billy Crystal to laugh, and he doesn't
disappoint. Crystal keeps in tune with the easygoing wit that made his
hosting the Oscars so funny. "Parental Guidance" is a return to what
made him famous in the first place: nice, funny family-friendly comedy.
Bette Midler is one of the only fairer-sex comediennes that could play
opposite the scene-chewing Crystal. They make a great pair, and divvy
out the laughs equally as hopelessly inept, secretly genius parents.
The script is written with a focus on the family being an audience,
which is not to say the individual or the date can't enjoy it just as
much. I was laughing in the first ten minutes, and it kept a steady
procession of comical response.
Marisa Tomei is still a stunning beauty. She steals her scenes with
unrivaled grace, no matter the movie, and here plays a mom different
than her own parents. The comparison makes for a laugh in itself;
especially where Crystal and Tomei interact.
There's no smut, no swearing, and no vulgarity. "Parental Guidance" is
a refreshing blend of old and new that proves what made the classic
laughs so great. Well done.
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