I always wanted to smack Rick Moranis's character for being such a jackass.
-
tchr88 — 13 years ago(August 11, 2012 05:33 PM)
I have to say Frank. It is quite obvious he was a different kind of father with Larry than he was with his other 3 kids. There seems to be an age difference between Larry and the older three, and since he is the baby of the family it kind of makes sense.
It just bothered me how much he enabled him. Larry is a grown man but very irresponsible, but Frank encouraged that. Like when he defended Larry when his mother asked him if he was planning another get-rich-quick scheme. And the fact that he kept giving him money to pay off bookies and go to South America, putting his entire retirement on the line to do so. And then to offer to let "Cool" stay with him when Larry went off to S. America.
Frank never redeemed himself with me.
Am I right or am I right or am I right? Right? Right?? ~~ Ned Ryerson -
angel1008 — 13 years ago(October 20, 2012 01:07 PM)
Larry didn't want to take Cool with him. And Frank had grown fond of Cool. Would he rather see his grandson on the run, possibly having someone kill him, or take care of him. And, he admitted to Gil that he was a rotten father.
-
EightiesKid — 13 years ago(December 27, 2012 06:00 PM)
I agree with most of the replies. The great thing about this movie is that it shows almost everyone's flaws but most of them redeem themselves and are basically good people too.
Larry was the youngest, so Frank was probably way easier on him growing up. They have a great bond, and you can tell he took Frank's freewheeling behavior and advice way too far, which Frank realizes by the end of the movie. Larry wasn't an evil horrible guy, although he was selfish and irresponsible.
Gil was kinda resentful of Frank (although he loved him of course), probably feeling like he was too distant and not caring enough when he was growing up. I think that's why he worried so much about things, but he was a great dad to all of his kidsprobably the best parent in the movie. He really went above and beyond on lots of things (i.e. Kevin being in therapy and how the teachers felt about him in Special Ed) and was responsible and still fun too.
Nathan meant well, he just didn't realize what effect his overly "baby geniusing" Patty had until the end (Rick and all of his characters are nerds/geeks lol, so it just came natural to him). Nothing wrong with academically encouraging them to an extent, but you have to balance it out and let kids socialize and play and just "be kids" too.
Even though he's not shown, I hated Ed (Julie & Gary's dad) for being an irresponsible deadbeat who rejected and treated his previous family like they didn't even exist. Larry doesn't hold a candle to him. I don't blame Gary for smashing his dental office at all! We're basically supposed to hate him though.
Matt & his dad just have a small part, but they're annoying. I think they're just meant to represent the typical obnoxious little league parents, and jerk bully kids. -
millerbluedeuce-487-874139 — 13 years ago(January 24, 2013 08:36 PM)
I have to go with Larry too, he reminds me of my brother. My brother was exactly like that, irresponsible, manipulative, always looking for that next "get rich quick scheme". He burned so many people that in the end it came as no surprise to any of us when he was found dead, bound and gagged with his neck slit. We all pretty much know who did it but my brother just reaped what he sowed and paid it with his life, poor stupid fool.
-
carolgholden — 12 years ago(July 28, 2013 09:51 PM)
They were all just folks doing what they thought was right. I had an acting teacher once who said you can't play a villan as if he knows he's a villanpeople almost always feel justified in what they do. The only character I couldn't stand was the father in the little league (Lou? "He had no business being in there" )played by Ron Howard 's real brother. I've seen so many parents that take the kids' game so seriously they hurt the kids in the process. So he was the only one I hated.
-
emuri99198 — 11 years ago(December 18, 2014 01:00 PM)
I believe that I would have found this movie better if Julie wasn't a bratty bimbo. Who would be stupid enough to think it's a good idea to
have sex, let alone photograph your 16-year-old selves doing it
?!? Not even Tia from
Uncle Buck
was this bad!
As parents go, Larry's the worst, obviously. And for a movie that shoves lessons down your throat, it decides NOT to do the same with him. Odd.
However, due to Rick Moranis being my favorite actor, I can't bring myself to hate anyone he plays, and that includes Nathan. Don't get confused; it still kinda breaks my heart. There were good intentions he had raising Patty, but he can make time with Susan; he can't neglect. I'm not sure if I'm remembering 100% correctly, but did he get mad at Susan in one scene because he didn't want another baby? (Incidentally, Rick got an award for this movie, but NOT
Little Shop of Horrors
, which I think is a much better movie, but I digress.)