Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poignant family dramedy with lots of adult themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Parenthood
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a mixed bag, with many finding it humorous and others deeming it too mature for younger audiences due to its adult themes and sexual content. While it presents a comedic look at the challenges of parenthood, it appears to better suit teens and adults rather than children, leading some viewers to question its PG-13 rating.
- adult themes
- humor and emotion
- inappropriate for kids
- mixed reviews
- questionable rating
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Four adult siblings discover there's more growing up to do as they take on the challenges of PARENTHOOD. Gil (Steve Martin) and his wife Karen (Mary Steenburgen) have their hands full with three kids, one of whom has anxiety and another, a potential learning disability. Helen (Dianne Wiest), a single mom, battles a headstrong teen daughter (Martha Plimpton) and a younger son (Joaquin Phoenix) who'd rather lock himself in his room than spend time with either of them. Susan (Harley Jane Kozak) has a husband (Rick Moranis) who thinks intensively training their daughter for the rigors of academia is the way to go, but she's not so sure. And with their youngest sibling, Larry (Tom Hulce), arriving out of the blue with a son he hadn't known about himself, Gil, Helen, and Susan -- plus their cranky father (Jason Robards) -- find that life is about to get even messier.
Is It Any Good?
It's no mystery that parenthood is a minefield, but what makes director Ron Howard's film masterful is how it acknowledges this truism without relying on the usual tricks. Parents are allowed to be unsure; children, defiant. Everyone's allowed to be human, and nobody has all the answers. And here, they're funny -- very funny, thanks to a tight screenplay and a superb cast.
From a charismatic Keanu Reeves to Jason Robards' portrayal of a deeply flawed man, each actor turns in a fully realized performance. Martin anchors them all, with his agitated, kinetic humor that's grounded in real life, keeping the film entirely relatable despite some slightly over-the-top comedy and a predictable ending. Not all has aged well -- a school shooting, even one dreamed up in Gil's mind, is harder to watch today than in 1989, and having the film's only Black character (in any substantial role) be abandoned by both his parents feels careless. But overall, Howard steers the film with compassion and humor. As with parenting, it's probably the best way to make a great movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about each adult portrayed in Parenthood: How do they approach child-rearing and what do you think of it? What makes a good parent or a bad one? Does the film realistically depict the highs and lows of raising children?
What about the kids? Are they shaped by the way their parents raise them?
Are the characters' story arcs and transformations -- if any -- believable? Do family members eventually reach a place of understanding?
Do you think the film's comedic depiction of a mass school shooting hit differently when it was released in 1989? How did the scene make you feel?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 2, 1989
- On DVD or streaming : April 24, 2007
- Cast : Dianne Wiest , Mary Steenburgen , Steve Martin
- Director : Ron Howard
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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