STEVE MARTIN & PARENTHOOD
Because my in-laws are coming into town for the long weekend, I’ve been thinking about how parents are portrayed in film. Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers are obvious choices for worse-case scenarios, but I also suggest renting Home for the Holidays (directed by Jodie Foster) during Thanksgiving. You can’t go wrong with Eugene Levy in the American Pie trilogy, but my favorite parent of all is Steve Martin in Parenthood. Directed by Ron Howard and written by the team that also scripted City Slickers and EdTV, Parenthood features a great cast, including young Keanu Reeves and Joaquin Phoenix (known as Leaf at the time).
Steve Martin may be recognized more these days for being a dad in Cheaper By the Dozen and Father of the Bride, but if you have kids, Parenthood is a must.