"What was intended as an opportunity for family togetherness quickly turned into a near catastrophe. Howard found himself schlepping mountains of suitcases and bags, which he had to parcel out to members of the cast and crew boarding the same commercial jetliner. Forty-five minutes into the seventeen-hour flight, Bryce vomited all over him. And the twins could not be coaxed to sleep at the same time. Once the whole episode was behind him, Howard realized that the comic, heroic, and life-changing business of being a parent deserved to find its way to the motion picture screen."
Four years later, Parenthood was released in 1989. Howard partnered again with power producer Brian Grazer and writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. The foursome had worked together on Night Shift (1982) and Splash (1984). Together the men were able to provide more than enough inspiration for the film's plot, having fourteen children between them. With a stellar ensemble cast, headed up by Steve Martin, and featuring Dianne Wiest, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis, and Tom Hulce, the venture seemed destined for success. As Howard remarks, "The creative process was a joy, shooting was great, editing just wonderful, and when it got reviewed, it was a hit."
Parenthood chronicles the trials and tribulations of the Buckman family, interweaving multiple plot lines and infusing them with a comic tenderness. Martin stars as Gil, a lovable worrywart, but in real life, the comedian (who had no children), had some real concerns about playing a father. Co-star Steenburgen recalls, "What was really fascinating was the day I met him in New York. Steve said, 'I'm nervous. I don't know children, and children think they're going to like me. But they really don't." When we arrived on the set in Florida, he didn't have time to think. The kids rushed up! He fell in love with them and they loved him. You should have seen the tears the day they left." Playing the parent of young children, Martin took cues from Howard, despite his comments to the contrary: "I don't know, it's subconscious I think. You just get the atmosphere. You don't look at someone and say, 'I'll copy that.' But according to an interview with the director, "That's exactly what Martin did do. Steve would see how I was holding my kid," Howard mimed lugging a 4-year old on his hip, gunny-sack style, "And put that in the movie."
The real scene-stealer though was Dianne Wiest playing a mom struggling with child raising. The role was a natural for Wiest, the mother of two children herself. The New York Times Review heralded her performance: "As a nervous, frustrated mother trying bravely not to project her personal bitterness onto her teen-age children, she wears the face of a smile button whose lines twist into expressions of anxious longing, exasperation and pained tenderness." The Academy took note; Wiest was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, her second since her 1987 win for Woody Allen's Hannah and her Sisters (1986). She would receive the honor again and secure another win five years later for another Woody Allen feature, Bullets Over Broadway (1994). Oscar® recognition for Parenthood would also go to songwriter Randy Newman, nominated for his tune, "I Love to See You Smile."
Howard was right about Parenthood being a success: Rolling Stone declared, "Parenthood, heartfelt and howlingly comic, also comes spiced with risk and mischief." Even the academics got involved; author Wes D. Gehring's book Populism and the Capra Legend compared Howard to the legendary director, stating: "The most exciting development about Parenthood was Ron Howard's growing ability to take the most fundamental of populist stories (the celebration of the family) and push it to updated extremes." Best of all, the film was a box office hit, making it the first unequivocal blockbuster for Imagine (Howard's production company).
Parenthood even spawned a television series, albeit briefly, of the same name. Running only for one season, it did, however, sport a notable cast - Leonardo DiCaprio, Ed Begley, Jr., David Arquette, and Thora Birch. The writer, Joss Whedon, would go on to create a hit series for the WB, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The film's cast, however, would also prove to be training grounds for stars in the making, most notably The Matrix's (1999) Keanu Reeves, but also River's brother, Joaquin Phoenix (going by Leaf at the time), who would go on to star in such successes as Signs (2002) and Gladiator (2000). And in keeping with a tradition of Howard's, he cast his father and brother in bit parts. Rance and Clint Howard play "Dean at College" and "Lou", respectively.
In describing their approach to their material, producer Grazer explained, "We try to make warm-spirited movies with some moral camouflaged within their entertainment, either about friendship or love." However, it's Howard who best articulates the theme of Parenthood: "If there is one, I think it's a kind of curiosity that I have for characters and the way they cope, particularly with loss or the threat of loss. I'm always intrigued by a character who thinks they are going down one path and suddenly has to face the possibility of a complete change, of an overwhelming loss. Even comedicly with a movie, such as Parenthood, to me that was very much about thinking that you had it very much under control, and then finding out that you don't. The whole experience of being a parent, and coping with that."
Producer: Brian Grazer, Joseph M. Caracciolo
Director: Ron Howard
Screenplay: Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, Ron Howard
Cinematography: Donald McAlpine
Film Editing: Daniel Hanley, Michael Hill
Art Direction: Christopher Nowak
Music: Randy Newman
Cast: Steve Martin (Gil Buckman), Mary Steenburgen (Karen Buckman), Dianne Wiest (Helen), Jason Robards, Jr. (Frank Buckman), Rick Moranis (Nathan), Tom Hulce (Larry Buckman).
C-124m. Letterboxed.
by Eleanor Quin
