Parenthood (film)

Gil Buckman, a sales executive, is trying to balance his family and his career. When he finds out that his eldest son, Kevin, has emotional problems and needs therapy and that his two younger children, Taylor and Justin, both have issues as well, he begins to blame himself and questions his abilities as a father. When his wife, Karen, becomes pregnant with their fourth child he is unsure he can handle it.

Gil is also frustrated and fearful that the financial burdens of another child and office politics at work are turning him into the detached workaholic he despised his own father, Frank, for being. Humbled by family and work issues, Gil opens up to Frank about his doubts as a parent. Frank tells him that he worries too much, and they have a reconciliation of sorts with Frank telling Gil that worry for one's children never ends.

Gil's older sister, Helen, is a divorced bank manager whose wealthy good-for-nothing ex-husband wants nothing to do with their kids, Garry and Julie, and spends more time with his own second family. Garry, who has just entered puberty, is quiet and withdrawn and likes to be alone in his room with a mysterious paper bag. At first Helen worries that it contains drugs or alcohol, but it actually contains pornography.

Julie is still in high school, but is not interested in her education. She and her boyfriend, Tod, get married, she becomes pregnant, and Tod moves into Helen's house. Helen asks Tod to talk with Garry believing he would be more comfortable confiding to another male. Tod is able to reassure Garry that his obsession with girls and sex is normal for a boy his age, to Garry's relief. This also increases Helen's respect for Tod. Eventually she supports Tod and Julie's relationship to the extent that when Julie wants to break up with Tod, Helen orders her to face her fears and work on their relationship. Helen also starts dating Garry's science teacher, giving Garry a father figure he has long been without.

Gil's younger sister, Susan, is a middle school teacher married to a scientist named Nathan. They have a precocious daughter, Patty. Susan wants more children but Nathan is more interested in Patty's cognitive development. Susan lashes out by eating junk food and compromises her diaphragm as a plan to get pregnant against Nathan's wishes. She eventually gets so frustrated that she leaves Nathan, who eventually comes to one of her classes and serenades her to win her back promising her he will try to change. She agrees to move back home.

Gil's brother, Larry, is the black sheep of the family but is Frank's favorite. Rather than settle into a career, he has drifted through life trying to cash in on get-rich-quick schemes. He has recently shown up along with his biracial son, Cool (the result of a brief affair with a Las Vegas showgirl), asking to borrow money from Frank. It soon becomes apparent that he needs it to pay off gambling debts or he will be killed. Frank is disillusioned but still loves him and tries to help. Frank refuses to bail him out completely, but offers to teach him the family business so he can take over for Frank who has to put off retirement to pay off the debt. However, Larry instead suggests another get-rich-quick scheme which involves him going to Chile. Frank agrees to look after Cool knowing that Larry will most likely never return.

The family is reunited at the hospital when Helen gives birth to a daughter. Frank holds Cool. Tod and Julie are together, raising their son. Susan is visibly pregnant. Gil and Karen are now the parents of four.

• Steve Martin as Gil Buckman
  • Max Elliott Slade as Young Gil Buckman
• Dianne Wiest as Helen Buckman
• Mary Steenburgen as Karen Buckman
• Jason Robards as Frank Buckman
• Rick Moranis as Nathan Huffner
• Tom Hulce as Larry Buckman
• Martha Plimpton as Julie Buckman
• Keanu Reeves as Tod Higgins
• Harley Jane Kozak as Susan Buckman-Huffner
• Eileen Ryan as Marilyn Buckman
• Leaf Phoenix as Garry Buckman-Lampkin
• Helen Shaw as Grandma
• Jasen Fisher as Kevin Buckman
• Paul Linke as George Bowman
• Alisan Porter as Taylor Buckman
• Ivyann Schwann as Patty Huffner
• Zachary La Voy as Justin Buckman
• Alex Burrall as Cool Buckman
• Charmin Lee as Nurse at Hospital
• Dennis Dugan as David Brodsky

The film was adapted twice to TV: as a 1990 series and again in 2010.

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