Mr. Mom | | Cast : | Michael Keaton, Teri Garr | | Director : | Stan Dragoti | | Studio : | Mgm/Ua Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | July 22, 1983 | | DVD Released Date : | May 01, 2001 | | Language : | French (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 31, 2005 | | Summary | Classic family comedy of the 80s | Content
 | Although it has still been almost 20 years since I first watched this film, it remains one of my favorite comedies. It was perhaps the first major film of its kind in which the mom/dad and husband/wife roles were reversed. The movie is tactful - for the most part - in dealing with the circumstances regarding these role reversals. Though moral and marital blunders always remain close at hand, this husband/wife team remain devoted to each other, and that's a rare thing in movies today.
My personal favorite parts of the movie are the ROCKY references, espceially when Jack (Michael Keaton, the title character) gets off the beer and soaps, and starts working out, shaving, and basically redeeming himself once again - all to the tune of the upbeat "Gonna Fly Now" theme from ROCKY. The very best parts of the movie - and almost everyone will agree on this - is simply watching the initial encounters and finally the rise of Jack Butler the homemaker. These range from watching soap operas (namely THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), adventures with the kids at the supermarket, and changing dirty diapers (after the baby finds an open can of chili!).
My complaints (and the reason for four stars instead of five) include times when the film gets a little too close to extra-marital affairs. As I insinuated before, this does not happen, but it may still get too close for certain viewers' comfort. Also, as one reviewer has already stated, the male stripper scene was totally out of place in a film of this kind. (MR. MOM was released one year before the implementation of the PG-13 rating.) And also I am very disappoined that this DVD is not available in widescreen format. I like being able to see the whole picture. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 13, 2005 | | Summary | one of the best | Content
| Loved this movie.. Michael Keatons best as well as my other favorite, Gung Ho. I have watched Mr. Mom a hundred times. Wish Michael would do another good comedy. |
| Rating | | | Date | October 11, 2004 | | Summary | Are you crazy? You don't feed a baby chili! | Content
| I think, more often than not, that I get caught up in these deeply rooted dramas that are more disturbing than entertaining. I love films that break the mold of the modern movie and go beyond what Hollywood 2000 is currently releasing. It seems to be the same old recycled material that has been in place for the past four years. Maybe we are experiencing Hollywood's "rut", or maybe there is something more, but films today just don't seem as personal as they once were. This is especially true in the comedies where bathroom humor comes first and plot development is somewhere in third or forth. What ever happened to films like Mr. Mom? Did we become too good or to technologically advanced to ever create films like this again? If this is the case, it is very frightening to see this change in events. Mr. Mom represents one of Hollywood's early chapters. This was the chapter of comedy that placed genuine human settings in very humorous situations. It was when ideas sold the film instead of sex or violence. It was a time in Hollywood when writers were paid to use intelligence instead of just whatever the kids will laugh at. Sadly, this chapter no longer exists, thus we are forced (willingly!) to watch films like Mr. Mom over and over again without any disappointment in our eyes. In a way, I hope that Hollywood doesn't revert back to this style of filmmaking so that it doesn't ruin my perception of 80s comedies.
If you couldn't already tell, I really enjoyed this film. There was just something about it that stood out for me. I think it had something to do with the simplistic nature of this film. There wasn't any convoluted plots, any dark sinister tumbles, any overplayed characters, or even any wildly confusing settings. This was a very simple film and it worked at every level. With the simplistic nature of the film, you could easily fall in love or feel a connection with Keaton's Jack. The family, although fabricated by Hollywood, seemed like one of your own or at least one that is not too far away from your own. There was a sense of ownership with this film that is missed in today's cinema. The chemistry between Garr and Keaton only helped add more enjoyment to this film. The continual "motherly" things that Garr did while not at home were not just funny, but somehow poignant. It reminded me of my childhood and those days when my father had to stay at home while my mother went to work. It was real life, or at least felt closer than what we see in the theaters today. There were money issues, dirty homes, and small televisions ... everything the American family needs to see.
Where the real humor occurs is in the home during the day. Keaton has the best ability to take simple chores and create disastrous, yet completely laughable, moments. His interactions with the kids are impeccable. You can see from the quote above the type of language he uses around one of his youngest children. This is a scene where it is time for the kid to give up his "security" blanket and move forward in life. Simply put, Keaton does fantastic as the stay at home mom. He combines moments of Uncle Buck with the pensive nature of Steve Martin. He is a comic, while Hollywood seems to dub him for other roles.
Perhaps that is why this film grabbed me as tight as it did. Mr. Mom reminded me of the classic family structure and also how our world has changed so much since this film. The "Mr. Mom" idea is very relevant in today's society. Men are staying at home with the children while mothers are the sole providers. It isn't embarrassing or uncommon to see this anymore. Also, this was one of those films where "nothing" happened outside the house. We are never taken outside the house into the real world for any extended period of time. We never see any newspaper articles or any television news, only soap operas and radio shows. While we can assume that there is a bad economy going on out there, we are never given a hint on how bad it is. This again allows us to stay focused on the family. It allows us to fall in love with them without worrying that anything bad will happen to them. We believe, throughout this film, that they are the best representation of family possible. They forge through any adversity and yet still come out on top. This would be a perfect film for families to watch together that may have some struggles in their lives. It would help them to see a family that works together for the common good.
Have I strayed off this film too much? I don't think so. This movie was more than just the story of a man accepting the role of the mother, but also a quick glimpse into the future. It was an American family story that would be perfect to watch at any point in your life. While the humor is enticing, what is most enjoyable to watch is the family and its reactions to adversity. It fills you with hope for all of us as we enter into any unknown times in our lives.
Too philosophical? I don't know, all I know is that I loved this film and cannot wait to watch it again. Keaton steals the show and proves that he is more than just a regular "Joe" in Hollywood!
Grade: ***** out of ***** |
| Rating | | | Date | September 22, 2004 | | Summary | One of my favorite Michael Keaton films | Content
| I remember seeing "Mr. Mom" in the movie theaters twenty years ago. It was a cute, harmless comedy. Whenever I think of Michael Keaton, I think of this movie. Michael Keaton stars as Jack Butler who falls victim to layoffs at the company he works for. His wife Caroline played by Terri Garr makes a bet with him over who gets a job first. Caroline manages to get a job at an advertising agency headed by Ron Richardson (Martin Mull). The only drawback is that Caroline hasn't worked in awhile so she is like a fish out of water at the company until she comes up with a snazzy ad campaign for tuna fish. In the meantime, Jack has to take over the role of housewife and learn to clean the house, take care of the children, fix dinner, do laundry, and go grocery shopping. It takes Jack awhile to adapt to the role of Mr. Mom but he has the help of Caroline's friends. The results is hilarious especially when Jack goes to the grocery store and loses one of his children. Another favorite moments is when the women and Jack are playing poker with grocery coupons or when they end up going to a Chippendale's nightclub. "Mr. Mom" is good, clean fun. Nothing offensive so it is perfect for children to watch. I still enjoy watching it after all these years. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 12, 2004 | | Summary | A Delightful Family Film | Content
| Mr Mom is a delightful family movie reversing parental roles where the man works and makes money and the woman stays at home and raises children. It all starts when Jack loses his job at a Michigan car plant caused by a shrewd accounting, who wants to improve financials by downsize personnel. The movie protrays the accountant as dishonest, cheap negotiator; who shifts blame by using a job enticement to get Jack too appear before a corporate board too take blame for losses. The accountant tries to manipulate Jack into taking responsibility for a sudden drop in profits and increases in costs, in Jack's old division. The Accountant wants Jack and his friends too confess and get their jobs back, 1/2 price. Jack confronts senior management and reminds them, he doesn't work for the company, anymore. The mood shifts and the accountant trys to pursued Jack too confess of siphoning funds for his own purposes; Jack wants his job back, however, he knows the truth is more important, so he stands up to the accountant and tells management, when he was there, costs were down and profits up. The movie pokes fun at the company's senior management attempts too creating short term profit gains by layoff staff and ignoring the effectiveness of middle manager, in particular Jack to keep costs down and production up. Its difficult to know, how Jack really helped the company. The Rocky analogy was a perfect setup for "Gung Ho". Revelation of Jack's skill will be discovered in "Gung Ho".
Jack's wife Caroline uses her connections too get a job working for an advertising firm tasked with creating an advertising campaign for Schooner tuna. Caroline brings Schooner back to selling "Americanism", "we at schooner tuna care", and "during this period of economic crisis, Schooner will drop the price of each can of tuna, 50 cents". Caroline is smart, if you want to move inventory, drop price; profit margins are less but product starts to sell, the cost of good don't increase stablizing against further losses, sales increase, and inventory decreases. I would say Caroline was pretty smart, maybe much smarter than Jack.
Caroline experiences the corporate climb, sexual harshment, hardline politics, long work days, and starts missing experiences with her children. Jack tells her not to forget what is most important. Jack experience mid-life crisis, throws a race against Carolines boss, drinks too much, gambles with his new female friends, gets confused while multitasking (clothes, TV maintanence, changing diapers, school dropoffs, and Soap operas). Jack becomes Rocky, cleans up his home, task command of his life, and makes a come back.
The movie is very delightful. The cast bringing humor, empathy, and friendship to the big screen. |
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