“PARENTAL GUIDANCE” Movie Review. Holy Smoke, it’s One Big Family Mess.

“PARENTAL GUIDANCE” PRESS PREVIEW

As a Christmassy “feel good” offering, this movie somewhat disappoints.

I cannot contain myself, I am not bubbling with joy either, but this is one you either love or loathe.

LOVE

Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei share the same billing nest.  Apart from that, there’s little to crow about.

LOATHE

Not a whiz bang, let’s say that the least you expect from this movie, you might actually wind up enjoying more.

“PARENTAL GUIDANCE” is unintentionally one big family mess, with put-on humor.

Here’s the product in a capsule:

 Grandfather Artie (Billy Crystal), who is accustomed to calling the shots, is a typically old school dude.

He meets his match when he and his wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three naughty grandkids. The children’s new-age parents are Marisa Tomei and Tom Everett Scott who have to go away for a work project.

Surely you will be amazed by several unsavory scenes on vomit, pee and poop in this unfunny comedy taking a swipe at a pair of exasperated grandparents who are trying their best to maintain their cool, whilst attending to three bratty kids.

Blame it on the “PARENTAL GUIDANCE” director Andy Fickman who is largely responsible for helming the project.

He tries hard to bowl us over, but thanks to his erractic treatment, the ensemble cast tends to go overboard in the acting department, irrespective of  grim or comedic situations.

Not to mention the predictable scrīpt which is pretentious and formulaic.

The movie has a situational sitcom “feel” throughout.

Well, one man’s meat is another man’ s poison.

Now, you be your own judge.