I always wanted to smack Rick Moranis's character for being such a jackass.
shareI didn't see Nathan as a jackass. He wanted his daughter Patti to become a brain. Would you rather she become a prostitute? I think in the end he toned it down somewhat but still made her and his newborn child into geniuses who would help change the world and not be George W. Bushes.
shareI disliked Tom Hulce's character (Larry Buckman) but I found him very predictable. He reminded me of myself wanting to be successful without having to do a ton of work. I've since dicovered that being successful requires much work and perserverance. Larry Buckman wanted to be a success without the associated hard work. There are 1000s of Larry Buckmans out there searching for that pot of gold or sure fire business opportunity that requires minimal work. And his dad did a great job of enabling him until the younger Buckman's gambling problems went too far south.
My favorite scene was when Frank Buckman (aka Jason Robard) confronts his son with a plan to pay off his gambling debt. Good ole Larry is all for it but then he offers an optional plan much to the chagrin of the elder Buckman. Apparently there is another 'sure fire opportunity' in South America. Larry wants to check it out. Should it not work out then Larry returns and proceeds with his dads plan. His dad knows that he'll never see his son again. What Frank is left with is the 'son' that Larry brought home from a previous relationship that didn't work out.
Yes good ole Larry is my kinda guy ...yeah right ...
Apparently there is another 'sure fire opportunity' in South America.
I don't even think there was some 'opportunity' in South America. It was just Larry's way of telling his father, "I'd rather go on the run in South America than make an honest living with you." And as you note, the father knew that he'd never see Larry again. That scene is so powerful, so much not being said, but so much being communicated.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
Larry first because he was a major scumbag. He deserted his son, only cared about money, and would have sold out his family to pay off his debt. Oh and that line where he hugs his sister Susan and says "if you weren't my sister.." I mean eeww!
Frank second because he was such a rotten father, but then he does redeem himself by the end.
Lastly Nathan for putting so much pressure on his little girl, but again he redeems himself by the end.
-Di
I have to say Frank. It is quite obvious he was a different kind of father with Larry than he was with his other 3 kids. There seems to be an age difference between Larry and the older three, and since he is the baby of the family it kind of makes sense.
It just bothered me how much he enabled him. Larry is a grown man but very irresponsible, but Frank encouraged that. Like when he defended Larry when his mother asked him if he was planning another get-rich-quick scheme. And the fact that he kept giving him money to pay off bookies and go to South America, putting his entire retirement on the line to do so. And then to offer to let "Cool" stay with him when Larry went off to S. America.
Frank never redeemed himself with me.
Am I right or am I right or am I right? Right? Right?? ~~ Ned Ryerson
Larry didn't want to take Cool with him. And Frank had grown fond of Cool. Would he rather see his grandson on the run, possibly having someone kill him, or take care of him. And, he admitted to Gil that he was a rotten father.
share"if you weren't my sister..." is a very disturbing line, indeed.
shareI agree with most of the replies. The great thing about this movie is that it shows almost everyone's flaws but most of them redeem themselves and are basically good people too.
Larry was the youngest, so Frank was probably way easier on him growing up. They have a great bond, and you can tell he took Frank's freewheeling behavior and advice way too far, which Frank realizes by the end of the movie. Larry wasn't an evil horrible guy, although he was selfish and irresponsible.
Gil was kinda resentful of Frank (although he loved him of course), probably feeling like he was too distant and not caring enough when he was growing up. I think that's why he worried so much about things, but he was a great dad to all of his kids...probably the best parent in the movie. He really went above and beyond on lots of things (i.e. Kevin being in therapy and how the teachers felt about him in Special Ed) and was responsible and still fun too.
Nathan meant well, he just didn't realize what effect his overly "baby geniusing" Patty had until the end (Rick and all of his characters are nerds/geeks lol, so it just came natural to him). Nothing wrong with academically encouraging them to an extent, but you have to balance it out and let kids socialize and play and just "be kids" too.
Even though he's not shown, I hated Ed (Julie & Gary's dad) for being an irresponsible deadbeat who rejected and treated his previous family like they didn't even exist. Larry doesn't hold a candle to him. I don't blame Gary for smashing his dental office at all! We're basically supposed to hate him though.
Matt & his dad just have a small part, but they're annoying. I think they're just meant to represent the typical obnoxious little league parents, and jerk bully kids.
I have to go with Larry too, he reminds me of my brother. My brother was exactly like that, irresponsible, manipulative, always looking for that next "get rich quick scheme". He burned so many people that in the end it came as no surprise to any of us when he was found dead, bound and gagged with his neck slit. We all pretty much know who did it but my brother just reaped what he sowed and paid it with his life, poor stupid fool.
shareThey were all just folks doing what they thought was right. I had an acting teacher once who said you can't play a villan as if he knows he's a villan...people almost always feel justified in what they do. The only character I couldn't stand was the father in the little league (Lou? "He had no business being in there" )played by Ron Howard 's real brother. I've seen so many parents that take the kids' game so seriously they hurt the kids in the process. So he was the only one I hated.
shareLarry
shareNot to mention Moranis' character had the hottest wife.
Larry was a doink, family should've disowned him.