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JohnRouseMerriottChard 2012-05-25 06:52:36

Megan and I are starting to watch the same TV shows. I'm liking them. I'm losing it!

Mr. Mom is directed by Stan Dragoti and written by John Hughes. Itstars Michael Keaton, Teri Garr and Martin Mull. Music is by LeeHoldridge and cinematography by Victor J. Kemper. Plot sees Keaton asJack Butler, who after being laid off from work, is forced to become ashouse husband when his wife Caroline (Garr) lands a good job withSchooner Tuna. Something he's really not cut out to do. Ah, well, look, it's obviously very eighties, and thankfully societyhas moved on in leaps and bounds since this film was released. But goodhonest comedy is just that, honest, and for those looking for a goodchuckle whilst admiring the talent of a pre-Batman Keaton, Mr. Mom is abad mood lifter. Condensed into the 90 running time are enough gags andfun sequences to fill out a 12 episode sit-com, with a pre-teen-angsttrail blazing John Hughes scripting it full of quotable lines. Lineswhich Keaton delivers with the comic timing not befitting someone juststarting out in films.The fun is mined from Jack being hopeless at basic household choreswhilst badly tending the three young children at the same time. Enterscenes involving shopping, dropping the kids off at school, laundry,cooking and ironing. As his masculinity starts to wane, Jack starts tooslob out and gets his kicks by watching day-time soap operas andplaying cards with the neighbourhood women. This coincides with hiswife Caroline (Garr adorable) advancing well at work, but paying aprice for it by being away from the family home far too much. There'salso the looming presence of Caroline's smarmy boss (Martin Mulldelightfully sleazy) and the good time girl (Ann Jillian sexing it up)who has her eye on Jack for fun and frolics. Both of these arestereotypes, but they existed then as much as they exist now, withthat, it's easy to cut Mr. Mom some slack. Supporting slots fall to Christopher Lloyd (who would re-team withKeaton for the very funny The Dream Team in 1989), Jeffrey Tambor (CitySlickers), Graham Jarvis (TV Starsky & Hutch/Cagney & Lacey) and MiriamFlynn (National Lampoon's Vacation). The child actors put in pleasingturns, where they score funny points both visually and orally, anddirector Dragoti (The Man With One Red Shoe) directs in an unfussynatural way. Ultimately it's Keaton and Hughes' script that lifts it tobetter comedy heights, the latter of which also plays on some basicfears that arise in the real world. Yeah, it's not just about Jack'sbumbling around the home, that John Hughes was a sharp man you know?7/10

movieman-61 2012-05-24 11:21:24

A great vehicle to showcase Keatons talent.

There are but a few actors in Hollywood who can make the transition fromcomedy actor to serious, dramatic actor. Michael Keaton is one of thebest.Going from this movie, Johnny Danger, Beetlejuice,and other hilariousmovies to Clean and Sober, Pacific Heights (terrifying), One Good Cop, andmany more demonstrates his talent and ability. I watch every movie hemakesand am never dissapointed.

senor_small 2012-05-15 07:09:39

old looking camera lensed, underated keaton comedy is funny

it was fun, and hilarious to see michael keaton in this role as a workingman, who's wife becomes the working girl, and he becomes a househusband.raising his kids. i thought when he got so much use to, becoming ahousehusband, he got fat, and grew a very big beard was funny, when he washanging out with a lot of women friends.

gcd70 2012-05-14 23:58:15

Idea light years better than the result

Michael Keaton's star was catapulted to international fame via RonHoward's hilarious 1982 comedy "Night Shift", in which Keaton playedHenry Winkler's annoying, jabber-mouthed morgue partner who justwouldn't shut up. The role won him a legion of fans and he followed thesuccess with a spate of movies of considerably less quality. One ofthose was Stan Dragoti's "eighties" comedy, "Mr. Mom".The story tells a role swapping tale about new househusband Jack, whofinds himself in charge of his home and three feral kids when he losesa bet with his wife. The opportunity for comedy is endless here, andDragoti does his best to milk it dry. In doing so however, he includesseveral lame jokes and weak humour."Mr. Mom" has some clever sight gags which in fact make up a highpercentage of the intended mirth, but the film loses its way when itbegins to swing between comic styles. Slapstick, parody, black comedyand "conventional humour" all get a turn to varying effect. Most of thetime Dragoti finds himself flogging a dead horse.Keaton fits the part but is unable to do a thing with it, and thesupport cast likewise struggle to make an impression. John Hughes' ideais light years better than his resultant script, which perhaps had toolimited a scope to really set audiences rolling in the aisles.Sunday, December 4, 1994 - T.V.

2012-05-12 05:09:22

Funny and Entertaining

I like Michael Keatons comedic acting, he reminds me of Jim Carrey a little. I think the movie is light but it makes you laugh. The things that happen when he is the mom of the house are done in a way that stand out and are really funny. The relationship he has with his family is so warm and easygoing. I liked when he plays coupon poker with the women. His wife who is played by Teri Garr is also down to earth and comedic. She takes on the male role of the household and becomes quite good with advertising. I liked the couples way of interacting with each other and with their real connection they had with their children. It was an entertaining film and it made me laugh. The things that would be fun to do if you had people who wanted to play would be coupon poker. That seems like a fun thing to do.

waterdude125 2012-05-11 13:18:07

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

I love this movie!If I where to get one movie from home to watch it would be this one I mean I love it!!!This is one of the best movies I ever seen!!

dickersont99 2012-05-05 10:15:35

Great, Wonderful, and A Great Ending!

I loved this film! it was a wonderful film with a great, clean, familysense of humor! A must see! Sweet! Cool! I have seen many comedies,most with sexual content to the full, we skip so many scenes in thosecomedies. but not this one! It was a great, funny, and awesome movie!Michael Keaton was fantastic in this film! All the script was made toperfection! This is a great movie if your sick of inappropriate flicks.Great! A must see! You'll love it! Absolutely awesome! I think manypeople agree with me, it's good to see a movie that you don't have toskip every minute! You need to see this film! I loved it! A classic ofepic proportions!

2012-05-04 13:34:51

Do not buy this censored DVD

This review is from: Mr. Mom (DVD) Entire scenes are missing from the MGM DVD release ("Mean Toilet" and Carolyn's big speech to the board at the beginning. Also missing is much of the character development with the kids. I have no clue why these scenes were taken out. Buy the VHS version!

2012-04-27 12:41:22

A classic!

This review is from: Mr. Mom (DVD) This movie arrived within the date promised. No problems at all!This movie is also a Classic! Michael Keaton at his best and some BIG stars from our childhood (70s)...

2012-04-26 19:29:05

mr. mom

This movie is about a guy named Jack that loses his job at a car factory. Jack thinks he will be able to get a job easy and he bets his wife a hundred dollars that he can get a job before her. She ends up getting a job at an advertising place. Which makes it so he has to stay home with the kids. Jack has no clue about anything that he has to do like grocery shopping, taking the kids to school, and doing laundry. Jack's wife's boss tries getting her to marry him. The movie was most likely extremely funny during the time it was made, but to watch it now it is very boring and definitely not funny. But this is also just my opinion. The stuff that is suppose to be funny is actually just plain stupid, like Jack cooking a cheese sandwich with a iron or having the TV repair person come see what's wrong with his TV after he kicked his foot through the screen.

2012-04-25 11:21:21

I love the 80's!

This movie is just another classic that represents how wonderful movies were back in the 1980's. A good simple family comedy without getting too tasteless with sexual innuendos and exploiting our common vices and weaknesses. Jack's a good family man and he loves his wife, and she loves and respects him too. Michael Keaton was great for this role because he does exhume a behavior of a loving family man who wants the best for his family. Of course, I've always enjoyed movies with Teri Garr as either a supportive wife or a great caring mother. Teri Garr was great in "The Black Stallion" and in "Oh God!" as John Denver's wife.It's interesting how accurate it is about how the auto industry was going through changes and that job lay-offs are eminent even back in the eighties before mass global industry started to kill off American jobs.Anyway, as a comedy, I can relate to how difficult it is for a man to enter the commonly recognized 'woman's world' of daytime television and running a household of various chores. It is so easy for a man to take for granted of what a homemaker goes through while we men are busting our butts out in the cold working world of sales and industry. Imagine how hard it is for a woman to take care of the house, AND have a job too. Guys! Our wives need our help! It's not so easy these days.And, of course, you'll even see a little sexism in how some corporate giant can think he can persuade an attractive married woman to give up her family just for more money and status. Martin Mull played a perfect slime ball in this film. He thought that his high corporate status would be more influential to persuade and charm a woman than that of his own natural character. I'd give this movie a five star rating if they ever re-release it in widescreen (not simulated widescreen by cutting off the top and bottom of the already chopped up fullscreen version like some re-releases have done). Movies like "Mr. Mom" are great Saturday afternoon entertainment that you can watch with your kids. I miss good family entertainment like this. Another great 80's comedy that I'd like to recommend with Michael Keaton is "Johnny Dangerously." Yes, I love the 80's!

2012-04-24 18:41:40

As good as I remembered

Good for all ages. A blast from the past. Were Michael Keaton and Teri Garr ever that young?

2012-04-20 09:45:55

Still a great film

This review is from: Mr. Mom (DVD) I love this film, and I love Michael Keaton's work. BUT! The only reason I'm giving this DVD four stars is...IT'S PANNED & SCANNED! Most likely MR. MOM was shot at least 1.85, and that's what I thought I was getting when I bought the DVD!Damn.

mcfly-31 2012-04-20 01:14:36

good family comedy

Keatons first lead role after his successful "Night Shift" debut in 82 wasthis family comedy about a laid off auto worker who takes over at home ashis wife (Garr) goes back to work. It is a bit unbelievable that Keaton,after years of having a family, would not know how to operate the washingmachine or vaccuum cleaner. But he was so perfect at being silly I had tolet it slide. Its a little like a fish outta water story as he has to go tothe unfamiliar market, do numerous chores around the house and learn theright way to drop off the kids at school in the morning ("South to drop off,moron!"). Plenty of good moments from a comedic and dramatic standpoint, asKeaton and Garr deal with her being away from home so much. Mull becomes afoil for her as her new boss, having a case of the major league hots for hisstar employee. Im sure Keaton will always be remembered as Batman, but thiswill always be my fave of his in one of John Hughes ("The Breakfast Club,""Ferris Buellers Day Off") more unknown works. Good, harmlessfun.

the amorphousmachine 2012-04-14 10:55:27

Remember, it was made 20 years ago, so a little out-dated, but I think it's still funny today!

(some spoilers) John Hughes certainly helped personify the 1980s aswriter and director! Although he didn't direct 'Mr. Mom', he hasn'tdirected a film in 14 years, which coincides when his writing in the90s has seen him represent less iconic films and straight-to-videosequels. He wrote Mr. Mom, and although, not as significant or funny as'The Breakfast Club' or 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', it stillrepresented a reasonably popular and somewhat iconic film on the genderrole in the 1980s.Michael Keaton plays Jack Butler, hard-working father of threechildren, who finds himself in a pickle when he and his colleagues arefired from his manufacturing car company. His wife, Caroline (TeriGarr), manages to get a job in advertising, and the roles are reversedso to speak. Nowadays, we might frown upon this being the premise for acomedy, but back in 1983, attitudes were different. Anyway, Jack findshimself learning the ropes of being the stay-at-home dad, whileCaroline begins to excel selling tuna as her new boss Ron (Martin Mullfrom "Roseanne") begins to take more than liking! Jack finds goes fromclueless Dad to successful parent, all the while avoiding theaffections of a would-be lover, and trying to get his wife to rememberthe little things she misses while wrapped in work. He learns thatpride in himself, and his family values are what's important, and notselling himself short to get a job back. Meanwhile, Caroline getscaught up in her work in more ways than one.This early 80s comedy is quite funny, even though some stereotypes maynot be accepted now. I'm sure most guys know how to shop for grocerieswithout wrecking the store, however "clean up in isle…" was quitefunny! And, of course, the whole letting yourself go in theunemployment rut and getting caught up in soap operas was also quitefunny. Keaton does well with or without a beard, and Teri Garr wasquite funny too. Christopher Lloyd is briefly in this movie, andJeffrey Tambor is good as the disloyal employer. This is reasonablywell directed and is Stan Dragoti's most popular film, but it's thewriting and humorous commentary on social changes and gender roles thatmakes this film a winner, particular because John Hughes had a gift forwriting good scripts in the 80s (I have no idea what happened in the90s). And, most people see this as a John Hughes film, although hedidn't direct it- but I guess it has his trademark. 'Mr. Mom' wouldn'twork as well now in my opinion, although many gender-issue comedieshave been made since. However, the workforce is no longer just a man'sworld, and vice versa. Still, 20 years ago, this film is pretty funny!A high ***½ out of *****!

2012-04-14 04:14:08

Mr. Mom

This review is from: Mr. Mom (DVD) Purchased this for a friend of mine who is in fact a stay at home DAD. Perfect gift!

RNMorton 2012-04-13 16:26:23

Modern Classic

One of the few true modern comedy classics, with Keaton and Garrswitching roles after Keaton's lay-off. Story flows seamlessly throughtheups and downs of Keaton's days of leisure. Keaton has never been better,particularly in his interplay with the neighborhood moms, and Garr isradiant as always. Beware of Family Channel showings, with more ads thanmovie.

2012-04-13 08:52:44

"Do it the Jack Butler way"

The storyline to this 1983 comedy is quite formulaic and predictable if you've seen enough movies. It's a role reversal comedy that has Michael Keaton playing the stay at home dad and Teri Garr playing the bread winning mom. As perhaps unoriginal as the story may be, I challenge other viewers to find a better and more wholesome comedy that touches on the subjects of role reversal, unemployment, and child raising without crossing the zany line. For the most part "Mr. Mom" is able to touch on some real critical every day issues with a winning and light touch, keeping us giggling and smiling along the way. This isn't a comedy that has you belly laughing, it's a chuckling movie with memorable parts.I've always felt Michael Keaton always brought a sincere character to the screen whether he played Beetlejuice, Batman, or Jack Butler. Jack is Mr. Mom, who gets laid off work and cannot find a job before his wife does. Teri Garr plays Carol Butler who has instant success as a marketing assistant. While Jack is trying to learn how to hold down a household with three kids, crazy appliances, and personal hygiene woes, Carol finds herself climbing the corporate ladder but disappearing in her role as mom on the home front. I think the movie works because it doesn't try to introduce us to a wacky household like most other comedies try to do in order to garner some unearned laughs. All the characters are quite believable and a lot of the events are things that every household can relate to or find humorous.My warnings for this film is that as much as this is an easy family film, it does deal with adult issues and situations. I always thought that Jack being shanghaied to a male strip club was in bad taste given the kind of audience it will attract; and the tempting Joan trying to seduce Jack may be inappropriate for a family audience. There's also some mild language to watch out for. I grew up watching Mr. Mom and I had no issues resulting from watching this movie as a kid.The few one star reviews you will read are either incoherent or those folks confused this film with a Will Ferrell like comedy. If you want a relaxing comedy that's good hearted and contains some funny, memorable parts then look no further. You should enjoy this one.

manipool 2012-04-11 11:17:36

Cute, cute film!

This was one of my favorite movies of the eighties. I watched it over andover when it came out and Micheal Keaton and Teri Garr were a blast tosee.The whole cast was wonderful from the kids to the Schooner Tuna bit! Thiswas great fun all around.....

Nick Johnson 2012-04-11 01:30:46

Pretty Good Comedy

I got this movie for Christmas last year on DVD and I kinda liked it but mybrother loves this movie. He loves the facial expressions that MichaelKeaton makes. My favorite scenes are the school drop off scene ("SOUTH TODROP OFF MORON!") The Supermarket scene and the soap opera scenes. The last20-25 minutes of the film don't match up though. Still it's a pretty goodcomedy. 7/10