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"PARENTAL GUIDANCE"
(2012) (Billy Crystal, Bette Midler) (PG)


Alcohol/Drugs Moderate
Blood/Gross Stuff Moderate
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Heavy
Frightening/Tense Scenes Minor
Gun/Weapons Minor
Imitative Behavior Heavy
Jump Scenes Minor
Music (Scary/Tense) None
Music (Inappropriate) Minor
Profanity None
Sex/Nudity Moderate
Smoking Minor
Tense Family Scenes Extreme
Topics to Talk About Heavy
Violence Moderate


QUICK TAKE:
Comedy: A grandma and grandpa are called on to take care of their three demanding grandkids when their Type A parents go away on a trip.
PLOT:
Artie and Diane Decker (BILLY CRYSTAL and BETTE MIDLER) are a couple of grandparents who live in Fresno, Calif., far away from their daughter, Alice (MARISA TOMEI), and son-in-law, Phil (TOM EVERETT SCOTT), in Atlanta. Artie has been a lifelong baseball announcer in the minor leagues, but has never been able to break into the Major League broadcasting booth. His chances appear to be zero when he is fired from his job as play-by-play announcer for the local Fresno team.

Out of work and contemplating their next stage of life, Artie and Diane agree to babysit Alice and Phil's three children so they can go on a trip. There is Harper (BAILEE MADISON), Artie and Diane's junior-high age granddaughter who is secretly miserable trying to be a young violinist; Turner (JOSHUA RUSH), the middle child with a speech impediment who is being bullied at school; and Barker (KYLE HARRISON BREITKOPF), the youngest child who is all full of mischief.

The problem is Alice still has unresolved issues with her parents, and she doesn't want them to take care of her kids in the manner and style she and Phil do. She doesn't believe in Artie and Diane's old-school way of tough love. Alice makes excuses to stay behind and not join Phil. At the same time, Artie uses Alice's connections at ESPN to try and score a network announcing gig. As Harper's big recital draws near, tensions among all the family members come to a boil.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Yes. It's a family comedy and it is being promoted as such.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG
For some rude humor.


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