MovieChat Forums > Parenthood (1989) Discussion > Not Dated At All...

Not Dated At All...

posted 13 years ago by dabukaba
24 replies | jump to latest

I started a similar thread a while back, but I didn't receive many responses at all. Does anyone else agree with me that it's really surprising that this movie is a whopping 23 years old, and yet it still looks, feels, and is modern in every single way, from the styles worn to the dialogues to the specific issues modern families face. As someone in the other thread pointed out, the only aspect that dates the movie is the use of a film-containing camera by Todd and Julie rather than a digital camera. (I also think this movie is surprisingly edgy in some respects for 1989.) Either this movie was definitely ahead of its time or not much has changed since 1989 except for in the area of technology.

[–] MuchToBeGratefulFor 13 years ago

I agree with you that the movie doesn't really date. In some ways, it's more timely now. I see more parents like Nathan trying to create a "superkid" and micromanaging their entire lives. I also see more parents who enable their kids, so you end up with a lot more Larry's. A lot more grandparents who end up raising a grandchild because the parent (their child) is either unable or unwilling to care for their kid. Because of the economy, parents like Gil have a harder time saying no to the job, which gets in the way of spending time with their children.

One way the movie doesn't seem realistic to me (but it's not a dated issue; I felt that way even when it came out) is that it's not so common for families to all remain in the same town. My siblings and I all moved to different cities from our hometown. Having all the adult siblings still living in the same city where they grew up (except Larry, who conveniently showed up) was needed for the plot, but I don't see that very much.

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

[–] woollybully07 12 years ago

I grew up living down the street from one aunt, and across the street from my grandparents. Yes all except my grandparents have moved around since then (to different states) but somehow we've all returned to the same city. In fact my parents are currently living in a house that is only a few houses away from the house we originally lived in. It's really not that uncommon for some families.

[–] AriaOfTelengard 13 years ago

What caught me off guard was that a character in the movie (I forgot who), mentioned that they live in tough times. Tough times?! In the 1980's!? Wow, they were soft skinned back then.

Look at how massive the house for the single mother was. DAMN, that house would have been an upwards of $300k easily. I bet she bought it for around $60k at most. Only in the 1980's can a single mother working at a pseudo-middle class banking job can purchase such a house without going in insane amounts of debt. But yeah, they live in "tough times."

[–] DrWhen 12 years ago

It depends on what part of the 80s. The early 80s inflation was over 10% and interest rates over 20%. A house might cost you $60K but that wasn't cheap with the interest and a national average salary at $15K. By the end of the 80s things were much better.

[–] furienna 12 years ago

What caught me off guard was that a character in the movie (I forgot who), mentioned that they live in tough times. Tough times?! In the 1980's!? Wow, they were soft skinned back then.

It was Larry, who said that, and I don't think he really meant anything by it. He just blamed "these rough times" for him drifting apart from Cool's mother.

Intelligence and purity.

[–] dbryantvfx 9 years ago

There was the stock crash of 87

[–] AriaOfTelengard 13 years ago

On another note...

One thing that dates this movie is how none of the adults in the movie have these following traits:
1) Diabetes
2) Student Loan debt
3) Low wage jobs

They are all living the American Dream (except for the gambler). The American Dream isn't a possibility for most people anymore. Even simply going to college is a big-time risk. I remember back in the 1980's that going to college tended to help you out, not throw you into bottomless debt.

[–] randydidit 13 years ago

uhm do we know that she bought the house? or is more likely that she got it in the divorce?

also... i have 4 siblings and none of us or our folks have your three points listed.

[–] cmtmj2006 10 years ago

Very true. In the late 80s decent paying jobs were plentiful and the American dream was alive. The last 25 years have been hard on generation X. Inflation, job outsourcing and part time jobs with no benefits have become the norm.

[–] Alfabeta 13 years ago

One simple reason - they present us a plethora of very different (arche)types of parents and children. With this many different psychologies given it's simply impossible not to recognize or identify at least just a bit with some character.

In fact, I don't know if I've ever seen so many different personalities in one movie. This is one of its biggest strengths and it makes it almost timeless.

Technology is the only thing that changes fast.

[–] dabukaba 13 years ago

True, though I feel that some time frames show faster change in general than others (in terms of technology and also pop culture). For example, 1989 was 23 years ago, and there was a much, MUCH bigger difference in those respects between 1966 and 1989 than between 1989 and 2012. I definitely agree about also the timeless aspects of the movie, however, in addition to things like clothing, hairstyles, and lingo, which reflect remarkable likeness to 23 years later.

[–] Alfabeta 13 years ago

A couple of things from the movie had actually become more timely these days, like couples recording their sex act and Moranis' Tiger Dad approach. :)

[–] LadyDi4476 13 years ago

A couple of things may date the film but overall the issues of parenting are completely timeless.

-Di

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] childers-3 12 years ago

I agree. It is just as good today as it was back then. Not a bit dated. The only other movie I can say that about is The Exorcist. The only thing that dates it is seeing doctors smoking! That just looks so funny to me!

"Well, make something up!"/RG

[–] EightiesKid 12 years ago

Totally agree with the OP. I think what makes it timeless are two things

1. The issues they tackled in the movie could work for any decade, and many are even MORE relevant now - such as Kevin being stereotyped and faced with being put in special ed, just because he was a little oversensitive. In that sense, they were really ahead of their time.

2. (Less significant, but still makes a difference), they didn't really have any overt references to then-current Late 80s pop culture. Even when it was present, it was just as a backdrop and not central to the storyline (like Kevin playing arcade videogames at the pizza place, although even some of those are still around now).

Even the few dated scenes, such as Julie & Tod's pictures getting mixed up with Helen's at the photo hut... could just as easily be modernized with sexting or FB pics if it were filmed now. Gary having pornos on VHS tapes would just be replaced with Helen finding sexy or naked pics on his computer, and/or him finding a way to look at pornos online.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Doc110894 11 years ago

Yes, this holds up really well.