Review - Parental Guidance (2012)

Starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei.
Directed by Andy Fickman.

Billy Crystal and Bette Midler star as Artie and Diane Decker who are somewhat irresponsible grandparents asked to watch over their grandchildren while the parents are out of town. It follows the usual formulaic style of most family comedy/dramas, where you see trouble in the household, challenges and then bam! everybody is happy again.

Throughout the film, you see the Deckers bond with their grandchildren despite some challenges as expected. At first, you will be witness to some funny lines especially from Billy Crystal. Unfortunately the humor fades and for the rest of the film, you are drowned in some cheesy and chippy dialogue. I thought the children were adorable but the parents (played by Tom Everett Scott and Marisa Tomei), just like the grandparents, became very annoying and unconvincing. I laughed at the forced sentimental scenes in this movie, it felt so unnecessary.

I'm sure the director targeted this film at a younger audience and I'm sure they will find this more amusing than I did with the casting and content. I also realize they were trying to recreate that 90's children/family comedy atmosphere with the film's score and soundtrack but it sounded a bit odd and didn't work for me. Parental Guidance is overly predictible and uses up all the cliches in the book. It doesn't attempt to be different and that's what pretty much made it a bore for me and will for older audiences.

Bette Midler's botox was distracting, Billy Crystal got annoying and overall Parental Guidance just wasn't for me. More suitable for young children.

Rating: 4/10



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