Story
Dianne (Bette Midler) and Artie (Billy Crystal) have become estranged from their only daughter, Alice (Marissa Tomei), and their three grandchildren, Harper (Bailee Madison), Turner (Joshua Rush) and Barker (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf). Alice and her husband, Phil (Tom Everett Scott), have very different views about parenting from their own parents. In fact, they keep their parents away from their family to stop them having an influence on the children. But a difficult situation comes up when both Alice and Phil must go away for work. Although they don’t want Dianne and Artie to look after their children, Alice and Phil must ask for Dianne and Artie’s help.
Dianne is determined to make a good impression. But Dianne and Artie’s relaxed style of parenting predictably causes chaos.
Themes
Parenting styles; family conflict
Violence
This movie has some violence. For example:
Sexual references
This movie has some sexual references. For example:
- Artie comes home to find women learning to pole dance in his lounge room.
- There is some mild sexual innuendo between Phil and Alice.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie shows some use of substances. For example:
- Characters drink at various places and at home.
- Dianne lets it slip to Harper that she used to smoke.
Nudity and sexual activity
None of concern
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in this movie: Cheerios and XGames.
Coarse language
This movie has some coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Parental Guidance is a family comedy with some crude humour and violence – including bullying – that children might copy. It also shows some careless parenting by the grandparents. It is therefore more suited to older children and adults.
The main messages from this movie are that family is important and you should accept differences of opinion.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include the fun and simplicity of childhood. It should be a time when children enjoy simple pleasures rather than learning how to be adults.
This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues related to Artie and Dianne’s parenting style. For example, they:
- give the children toy water pistols when their parents don’t let them play with guns
- let Turner watch an adult movie
- let Harper dress up like a teenager and put on make-up to go to a party her parents would not have let her go to.
Should Artie and Dianne have shown more respect for their daughter’s values?