← Back to results
Parenthood
1989 124 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★7.8
Comedy, Drama
Director: Ron Howard
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
Description
The story of the Buckman family and friends, attempting to bring up their children. They suffer/enjoy all the events that occur: estranged relatives, the 'black sheep' of the family, the eccentrics, the skeletons in the closet, and the rebellious teenagers.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$100.05M
Worldwide:
$126.3M
Starring
Steve Martin
Actor
Mary Steenburgen
Actor
Dianne Wiest
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1990
— Best Original Song
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Supporting Actress
Golden Globe 1990
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Original Song
Golden Globe 1990
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
Parenthood is widely regarded as a poignant and relatable exploration of the complexities of raising children and maintaining family bonds. While marketed as a comedy, many viewers feel its true strength lies in its realistic, sometimes raw portrayal of the struggles and emotional endurance inherent in parenting.
| Acting | The ensemble cast, including Steve Martin, Diane Wiest, and Jason Robards, delivers uniformly strong performances that ground the film's disparate narratives. | |
| Direction | Ron Howard effectively balances multiple, intertwined family storylines, preventing the film from feeling fragmented despite the large cast. | |
| Theme | The writing excels at capturing the authentic, messy reality of family life, avoiding overly idealized portrayals of parental success. | |
| Humor | Opinions on the film's genre identity are divided: some find the humor refreshing and entertaining, while others argue that the dramatic elements are far more substantial than the comedic ones. | |
| Ending | The resolution is debated; some appreciate the hopeful, feel-good conclusion, while others find the tidy wrap-up of complex, realistic problems to be contrived. |