FILM: Parental Guidance (U)

Miscommunication between the generations has amusing consequences in this family comedy directed by Andy Fickman.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Dec 2012, 17:00 BST

Artie Decker (Billy Crystal) and his wife Diane (Bette Midler) are enjoying the later years of their lives, free from the responsibility of raising children.

Their daughter Alice (Marisa Tomei) has a handsome husband Phil (Tom Everett Scott) and three children of her own: Harper (Bailee Madison), Turner (Joshua Rush) and Barker (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf).

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When Alice needs to leave home for a few days for her work, she telephones Artie and Diane to ask if they could babysit the tykes. He is reluctant but Diane readily accepts, thrilled at the prospect of spending more time with her grandchildren.

It soon becomes clear that Artie and Diane do not know how to relate to Harper, Turner and Barker and their 21st century fads.

In desperation, Artie resorts to old-fashioned parenting techniques to give the kids the support they need, but his heartfelt efforts don’t always reap the intended rewards.

Released: December 26 (UK & Ireland), 105 mins