Movie #766 ........................."Parental Guidance"

Movie #766 "Parental Guidance" was a bit uneven in the script, acting, and tone. There were some very good moments, esp with the oldest child segments, but then with the littlest child, there was a skateboarding scene that was too ridiculous for me (and just stuck in there to get an endorsement from Tony Hawk fans, maybe?). The acting was good with the kids and Billy Crystal, but Bette Midler kept looking at winking at the camera ---- I didn't believe for one moment that she was married to Crystal. As far as tone, it would go for big laughs (pulling on mom's sweater, or the cake scene)in a ridiculously exaggerated way, and then try to be poignant in others. I really did like the baseball moments, and there were several scenes with that, and the kid's invisible friend was universal, too --- in fact, there were lots of universal scenes that parents and kids could laugh at, but there's a lot that is too far fetched --- but if you know that going into it, the film might be a fun diversion for a rainy Saturday afternoon. It's fluff, to be sure. But Billy Crystal tries to keep it real for most of his stuff. Parental Guidance 2012 PG 104 minutes I give it 3 out of 5 stars. When their daughter must leave for a week, Artie and Diane Decker find themselves in charge of their three grandchildren, whose well-regimented and high-tech lives leave Grandma and Grandpa baffled and ready to bring on the old-school parenting. Cast:Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott, Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush, Kyle Harrison Breitkopf, Jennifer Crystal Foley, Gedde Watanabe, Rhoda Griffis, Madison Lintz, Brad James Genre:Family Comedies, Children & Family