MovieChat Forums > Parenthood (1989) Discussion > Anyone considered that Larry is lying an...

Anyone considered that Larry is lying and thus scamming his father?!!

posted 9 years ago by al666940-3
4 replies | jump to latest

That gamblers being after him story seemed, off, for several reasons:
- 26K is a lot of money (back in the 80's), at least he would be missing teeth if not fingers. Yet he is unharmed.
- The gangsters just happen to bounce him off right at the right moment so his father gets to watch (and just right on the lawn so Larry doesn't even get a scratch)?
- The gangsters know where he's staying yet don't come around (it's implied he went to see them)?
- There's no talk about interest or vig on what he owes. If the debt was real, he would be catching a visit every week and coming up either with broken fingers or cash each time. Yet he doesn't raise that point to his father's payment plan (which would take 26 months, and thus would make the debt increase by whatever the weekly vig is, say 3%, minus the 1K monthly payment. Long story short, after 26 months and thus having paid 26K they would STLL owe 18K by then).
- And of course, how quickly he is to drop/abandon his kid (what a great opportunity)

So all that makes be think he was taking his father for a ride. He was never in any real danger. If he were, he would be begging to all his bothers and sisters, not just his dad.

[–] joasiafly 9 years ago

Agreed. He's the unrepentant prodigal sociopath son.

Doesn't want to assume any responsibilities; bringing Cool with him was a smokescreen.

[–] al666940-3 9 years ago

And the father, for all the absent/emotionally unavailable/whatever Gill accuses him of being, turned out to be (in my opinion) a great dad (all of his sons/daughters except Larry turned out pretty good, and he stepped up to take care of Cool) after all (Gill himself admits he's no one to look down on him anymore in the end).

Although you do have to admit he did kinda enabled Larry on his loser streak (he is indeed the father's "favourite" son watching how he dotes on him throughout the movie) if unintentionally (not sure how much of his fathering advice was indeed sound and Larry is indeed deliberately twisting to justify his now guilting his father and asking for money).

But yeah what else was he supposed to do?

[–] HOKfilms 9 years ago

So he hired somebody to throw him out of a car? lol

I think youre over thinking the part about the bookies. Over analyzing what they would do (broken fingers, etc)... you dont know how much time has gone by or what theyve said to him.

He tried to sell his dads car. I dont think that was just an elaborate rouse.

Unless youre responding to me, dont hit reply to my post

I <3 Emily Blunt

[–] hide86 9 years ago

Anyone considered that Larry is lying and thus scamming his father?!!

Of course he was- I'm surprised you would even question it.

**~Not my circus, not my monkeys...~**