Search - Parenthood [Fullscreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1989 DVD Release: 03/31/1998 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 4 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 22 Genres: Comedy, Ensemble Film, Domestic Comedy See Also: Parenthood [Widescreen] [Special Edition], Parenthood [Widescreen] [Special Edition]

This feel-good ensemble comedy tracks a quartet of suburban siblings and their families over the course of a single summer. Hardworking Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) and his stay-at-home wife, Karen (Mary Steeenburgen), have just a few months to help their oldest son, Kevin (Jasen Fisher), overcome his high-strung behavior problems before he'll be relegated to special-education classes. Gil's difficult relationship with his own father, Frank (Jason Robards), has led him to become a would-be super-dad for his three kids, so he takes his son's difficulties more than a little personally. Gil's sister, Helen (Dianne Wiest), is trying to raise a moody, adolescent son (Leaf Phoenix) and an independent-minded daughter (Martha Plimpton) with no help from her well-off ex-husband, who's more interested in his new wife and family. Gil and Helen's sister, Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), meanwhile, must participate in the too-scripted Big Life Plans of her anal-retentive husband, Nathan (Rick Moranis), whose overachiever zeal infects even their toddler daughter. When long-lost brother Larry (Tom Hulce) show up with yet another get-rich-quick scheme, he brings with him a surprise addition to the family. Screenwriters Babaloo Mandel, Lowell Ganz, and Ron Howard negotiate their varied subplots with a deftness and comedic touch that transforms this conflicted clan into a suburban everyfamily. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Steve Martin - Gil Buckman
Mary Steenburgen - Karen Buckman
Dianne Wiest - Helen
Jason Robards, Jr. - Frank Buckman
Rick Moranis - Nathan

Ron Howard's 1989 comedic ode to family life comes to DVD with this paltry release. Fans ought to be disappointed to discover that the disc's features are limited to interactive menus, production notes, and talent bios, but it's the absence of a widescreen transfer in favor of a lone standard 1.33:1 pan-and-scan transfer that really makes the Parenthood DVD a letdown. Both the English and French soundtracks are in Dolby Digital Surround, which is more than one would expect based on the other features. Nonetheless, only those who are too impatient enough to sit tight in hopes of an updated edition will want to check this one out. Spanish subtitles are also available. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide