Parental Guidance parents guide

Parental Guidance Parent Guide

Amongst these fibs, follies and food fights there are truly funny moments. It's just unfortunate that Walden Media doesn't offer families some stronger reasons to seek "Parental Guidance".

Overall B-

Desperate for a babysitter, Alice (Marisa Tomei) is forced to ask her parents for help. Her mother (Bette Midler) jumps at the chance to spend time with the grandkids, but her dad (Billy Crystal) has some serious hesitations.

Release date December 24, 2012

Violence B+
Sexual Content B
Profanity A-
Substance Use B-

Why is Parental Guidance rated PG? The MPAA rated Parental Guidance PG for some rude humor.

Run Time: 105 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

When I was a kid movies were made about stick-in-the-mud old people who couldn’t grasp the sensibilities of the new generation. In Parental Guidance that new generation has gained membership in the half-century club and now must deal with their stick-in-the-mud adult children who are busily tied to cell phones while feeding tofu hotdogs and soymilk to the grandkids. But what happens when the parents need to leave for a few days and turn over the reins of family life to grandma and grandpa? A movie script is born…

Artie and Diane Decker (Billy Crystal and Bette Midler) seldom see their three grandchildren, so when their only child Alice (Marisa Tomei) requests an extended child-sitting favor so she can accompany her husband (Tom Everett Scott) on a business trip, grandma can’t say no. Grandpa, on the other hand, is dealing with a sudden job loss and would rather be down in the dumps on his own sofa. Conceding to his wife’s determination to care for the little ones he slaps a smile on his face and heads to Atlanta.

Raised in a home where words like “no”, “don’t”, and “stop” are banned and political correctness is embraced, Artie’s gift of a trio of water guns is unwelcome by his daughter, who shun violent toys, even though it elicit sequels of delight from the youngsters. Soon even Grandpa regrets the choice after one of the little darlings showers his pants, leaving him with a wet crotch. And in short order other personality traits are revealed that are sure to tax the sitters. 12-year-old Harper (Bailee Madison) is an over-achiever wrestling with a newfound desire to have a social life, Turner (Joshua Rush) is dealing with a bullying issue that aggravates his stuttering speech disorder and little Barker (Harrison Breitkopf) quickly learns that blackmailing Grandpa can be a profitable activity.

This couple-of-fish-out-of-water premise holds all the usual hijinks one might expect, including the kids’ first introduction to high sugar foods when Fartie (grandpa’s new nickname, heard repeatedly throughout the script) brings home a giant ice cream cake as one of many bribes to keep the boys quiet about a previous indiscretions. And that leads to the biggest concern in this script—our senior protagonist constantly lies and yet he, with some help from Grandma Diane, eventually becomes the source of wisdom that ultimately drives the story to its happy ending.

Other concerns for family viewers include potty humor—quite literally. In one scene Artie needs to sing a song in a pubic restroom to encourage Barker’s reluctant bowels to get moving. And the little tyke also urinates at a skateboard competition, creating a surface too slippery for even the famous Tony Hawk. Meanwhile Grandma encourages the uptight Harper to let her hair down, party and discover her sex appeal.

Happily amongst these fibs, follies and food fights (that’s why he bought such a big ice cream cake) there are truly funny moments, especially with Billy Crystal’s comic delivery and the chemistry he shares with Bette Midler. As well, it is nice to see a movie that puts grandparents in a position of being helpful and (somewhat) knowledgeable. It’s just unfortunate that this production from Walden Media, a company dedicated to creating stories that (according to their website) “...capture the imagination, rekindle curiosity, and demonstrate the rewards of virtue,” doesn’t offer families some stronger reasons to seek Parental Guidance.

Directed by Andy Fickman. Starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott. Running time: 105 minutes. Theatrical release December 24, 2012. Updated

Parental Guidance
Rating & Content Info

Why is Parental Guidance rated PG? Parental Guidance is rated PG by the MPAA for some rude humor.

Violence: A grandfather encourages his bullied grandson to stand up to his assailant—later the boy returns with a black eye and admits he threw the first punch. A man starts an argument at a kids’ baseball game. A child hits a man in the crotch with a bat. A man falls from a skateboard after slipping in a puddle of urine. A woman gets a nosebleed when she is accidentally bumped while playing her husband and grandkids. An imaginary friend is hit by a car and killed, and a funeral is held the next day. A food fight erupts after some children are left alone while eating an ice cream cake.

Sexual Content: A man makes mild sexual remarks during a pat down at airport security and when trying to unbuckling a car seat. Other veiled remarks are made about a married couple needing to have some intimate time together. A grandmother encourages her granddaughter to wear a sleeveless dress to increase her chances of winning a music competition. Women are seen exercising using dance poles—no sexual comments are made. Married couples kiss.

Language: A man named Artie is referred to as “Farite” by his grandkids. A woman tells her husband to “shut up.”

Drugs/Alcohol: A man says he needs a martini. A woman drinks a glass of wine while stressed. A character talks positively about getting drunk. Social drinking, including alcohol served at a bar, is depicted.

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Parental Guidance Parents' Guide

How does the movie script use the technology gag to demonstrate the generation gap? What are the strengths and weakness of each age group?

What positive roles can grandparents play in a child’s life? How is their approach different from parents? What benefits have you observed in relations between children and grandparents?

What are ways families can overcome geographic distances? Aside from obvious technological tools, like communicating over the Internet, what are other ways families can build relationships and stay close?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Parental Guidance movie is March 26, 2013. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Parental Guiadence

Release Date: 26 March 2013

Parental Guidance releases to home video with the following extras:

Parental Guidance on DVD:

- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Andy Fickman

- Audio Commentary with Director Andy Fickman and Billy Crystal

Parental Guidance on Blu-ray:

- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Andy Fickman

- Audio Commentary with Director Andy Fickman and Billy Crystal

- Gag Reel

- FXM Productions Presents: In Character with Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei

Related home video titles:

Relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren are depicted in these movies:Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over,Little John and   Whale Rider.