MovieChat Forums > Parenthood (1989) Discussion > Kevin Had Serious, Serious Issues

Kevin Had Serious, Serious Issues

posted 15 years ago by ZeoRangerFive
43 replies | jump to latest

He needed more than a shrink, that kid was mentally disturbed. I've never in my life seen a kid flip out and start crying because kids his age don't like him. When I was younger I wasn't the most popular kid in the world and I got made fun of and stuff but I didn't flip out and start crying. I just said, whatever, and went on with my day. Now I have friends and people don't make fun of me anymore. That kid needed to be put away in a mental hospital. That scene where he starts crying because he lost his retainer is ridiculous! Life goes on, get over it.

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[–] JustAnotherWhedonite 12 years ago

I took note of the fact that the "Kevin character" on the TV show (Max) has Aspergers.

If this film was released today, I think they'd say Kevin was on the spectrum, for sure. He had many red flags. Being the 80s, though, he was essentially labeled a "mental case."

[–] JustAnotherWhedonite 12 years ago

I have a child with Autism, and yeah, something like losing a retainer would definitely make my kid scream.

[–] sonofbeach-sheet 12 years ago

Yeah, I would say Asperger's Syndrome for him, at worst. Or maybe ADHD. He wasn't eccentric or a sociopath, just very tense and high-strung

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] furienna 12 years ago

I took note of the fact that the "Kevin character" on the TV show (Max) has Aspergers.

I just hated how Max's parents reacted to their son having Asperger's. It was like it was the end of the world for them. And then, we have one of his aunts worrying that her daughter has Asperger's too, but no, thank God, she's only really intelligent! As if we aspies can't be that too! Bleh... I love this movie, but hated that show.

Intelligence and purity.

[–] EightiesKid 12 years ago

Kevin was a very nice kid, I think he just his self confidence wasn't very good sometimes, so you tend to take small things far harder than others, such as not having enough friends, acceptance, or feeling like you're "no good" at something. That's something the OP and others even today can't always understand. The jerk kid on the baseball team telling him he stunk had problems, not him!

He clearly got some of this from Gil (who was high strung and worried alot himself). I think Gil tried so hard to be a perfect dad, since Frank wasn't.

The arcade scene wasn't the best example. Kev already got bullied by another kid for his money, and being already sensitive and having low self confidence on top of that, is what made him so upset when he lost his retainer. $200 in 1989 money is about $500 now with inflation, so it's not cheap, and he probably worried his parents would be mad at him for losing it.

Things like this really make this movie way ahead of its time. In 1989 almost nobody was talking about things like Autism (which he might've had a milder form of), and just relegated him to needing Special Ed or therapy.

[–] joyinacceptance 12 years ago

He was feeding off of his Dad's constant state of anxiety. Notice during the school play when Steve Martin started making that exact same scrunched up face. When Steve finally chilled, his kid improved too.

[–] JustAnotherWhedonite 12 years ago

That's a good point.

[–] Kuato_and_George 12 years ago

I had a relative who used to throw major tempter tantrums when he was a kid. Over the years, it was suggested he get involved in martial arts. Guess what? It worked.

Kevin had issues, there was no doubt about it. But your idea that he needed to be locked away like he was Michael Myers is an overreaction. Crying a lot and worrying too much - which was essentially Kevin's problem - is hardly a reason to lock somebody up in the nuthouse.

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[–] soso 11 years ago

So Kevin in this movie was a lot like me when I was his age. Around 7-9 years old, I went through a phase where I was highly, super sensitive. I realize now that it was because I had a lot of anxiety at this age and was very neurotic (for reasons too long to list here - while I had a mostly happy childhood, it was peppered with more trauma and stress than a kid that age deserves). Looking back, I also realize I had bad coping skills at the time and could not deal with things that went wrong and would do what Kevin did in the movie (burst into tears or have a fit).

I eventually grew out of it and grew up to deal with stress way better than anyone who knew me as a kid expected. My Mom has said to me several times that I am the strongest out of my sisters & I - made me feel very happy when she said this!

Kevin definitely had emotional problems. But like me, kids can grow out of it if given the proper guidance and nurturing. I don't think he had mental issues at all, was just a high-strung kid.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] woollybully07 12 years ago

Don't you love people who when they critique movies and something that's different then what they were in similar situation instantly means this movie is wrong, you know because EVERYONE is going to have the exact same experiences as you.

[–] daughterofolaf 11 years ago

Wow. The OP must be extremely immature and oblivious to the human condition. First of all, it's an 8-year-old kid, not an adult, secondly the freak out was not just about the retainer. Did you pay attention to anything that happened prior to the retainer disappearing?

Let's just hope that someone like you will never be a parent. That would be a sad day for any kid you have who has any sort of emotional problems. To imh that the kid should be in a looney bin is beyond ridiculous.

"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

[–] moviemarathoneverynight 11 years ago

your reaction is very similar to rants of obese people who managed to be size 0s after months or years of intense work-outs and dieting.. you're the one who has serious issues...