- Film Review
- Reviewed By Stella Papamichael
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2 out of 5
Billy Crystal and Bette Midler play a couple of kooky old-timers who are asked to babysit their mollycoddled grandchildren in a comedy that celebrates the way parenting used to be. That means the kids are often left to their own devices, providing the perfect opportunity for some old-fashioned slapstick, including a cream-cake food fight and a public peeing incident that leaves skateboarding legend Tony Hawk injured. Younger viewers might be entertained, but there's little to amuse grown-ups. Crystal and Midler make a charming double-act, with wisecracks aplenty, but they're reined in for a family audience. The story is as much about the strained relationship with their daughter (a frazzled Marisa Tomei) as their grandchildren, but the expectation of a fresh, comedic perspective on modern parenting is never delivered by director Andy Fickman. Inevitably, lessons are learned by all, but frankly it all feels a bit obvious, perfunctory and dated.
Plot Summary
A busy mother turns to her parents for help in looking after her three children while she and her husband are working. However, family relations are soon strained to breaking point when it becomes clear that the two generations have very different ideas about childcare. Comedy, with Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Artie Decker
- Billy Crystal
- Diane Decker
- Bette Midler
- Alice Decker Simmons
- Marisa Tomei
- Phil Simmons
- Tom Everett Scott
- Harper Decker Simmons
- Bailee Madison
- Turner Decker Simmons
- Joshua Rush
- Barker Decker Simmons
- Kyle Harrison Breitkopf
- Mr Cheng
- Gedde Watanabe
Crew
- Director
- Andy Fickman
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