Tom Selleck plays an absentee son to senile "pop" Don Ameche and weary mom Anne Jackson, making up for his indiscretions (one presumes) and taking them in after Ameche has burned down his mobile home; meanwhile, Selleck's job is vanquished by the F.B.I., his assets are frozen, his wife and kids leave him and his obnoxious sister and her brats have come to stay. Brightly-painted comedy-of-ills is as out of touch with reality as Ameche's doddering old coot. Perhaps a serious first draft (with scenes such as Ameche walking out into traffic with two toddlers) was incorporated into a sillier second or third version (with Selleck getting poked, bumped, prodded, and eventually losing a toe and a testicle!). Either way, it's a painful experience, and Selleck's sudden dedication to his father makes little sense; he hobbles around and howls in pain, but retains his heart of mush. This movie is mush. * from ****
... View MoreThis is a satirical look at a behind-the-scenes view of Tom Selleck playing a had-it-all stockbroker who loses it all. It has a black satire view of Alzheimer's but political correctness aside - it is one of the funniest movies of Selleck's that I have seen!!! I loved Don Ameche and Anne Jackson who were perfect as his parents and they deliver some of the best one-liners I can remember. If you liked the quirkiness of "HAROLD & MAUDE" or "the HOSPITAL" with George C. Scott or "WHERE'S PAPA?" with George Segal - this movie is just for you!!! I just wish it would be released on DVD as my VHS copy is getting a lot of play from being loaned to others who have never seen it.
... View MoreThis is a good movie. Sure, it won't win any awards, but it's still a lot funnier than many more successful films out now. Some people seem to have a problem with mixing humor and Alzheimers. My own grandfather had this horrid disease and eventually passed away a few years back. Does this make me feel that this movie is less funny? Not for a moment. The reason is that nothing bad ever happens to Dom Ameche's character. He sets up Tom Selleck time and time again for painful slapstick gags, but he always comes out squeaky clean. I found the writing witty with some good one-liners and great character interaction. On a believeability scale, it rates pretty low, but it is plausable. I saw no plot holes that others have mentioned, but it's easy to see plot holes when you already know the concept of the story, unlike the characters who are in the dark and haven't seen a "trailer" of their lives. The cast is also great, btw.All in all, this movie is a great distraction, but if you haven't smile or laughed in awhile and you think South Park is immature, you probably won't like this film. If you do see it, just remind yourself that they are not making fun of Alzheimers, they are poking fun at the misadventures one man has trying to take care of his aging parents while trying to retain his own sanity.
... View MoreForget Leonard Maltin's comments. I can't remember when I laughed so hard. Sure, it's slapstick. There are plenty of cheap jokes and visual cheap shots. But there's just enough irony (McDonalds/McDonnel's) to make things interesting. An hour and a half of pure escapism and belly laughs.
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