Under the Influence

I feel that this movie was one of the best I've seen which illustrates the dysfunctional alcoholic Family. It clearly showed all of the family roles which typically can exist in that setting. (Dependent, Enabler, Hero, Scapegoat, Lost Child and Mascot). I believe that this is a must to see for any alcoholic, family member of an alcoholic family and even any member of a dysfuntional family which my not involve alcoholism.

This movie does an excellent portrayal of the alcoholic family, and the son's unconscious recording of his fathers'personality. Everyone plays their role well, but you could swear Andy and his oldest son developed a problem, on purpose, for the reality of this sad, but real, film.

I've just seen this film for the first time and I must says, it very good for a TV. There is no schmaltz, no over acting, no oversentimentality.

The movie is based on how a father's drinking problem is affecting his family. They are dysfunctional, but are in denial. The father's losing customers, the mother is popping pills, hoping everything will go away and thing will go back the way they were. The elder son has run off and deals with the problem by airing it in his stand up comedy routine [which is excellent interplayed throughout the movie in a kind of narrative].

The elder daughter still wants daddy's approval and it's causing her marriage to fail. The younger son [played excellently by Keanu Reeves in one of his first feature films] is following in dad's footsteps, but has the willpower to change his ways before he ends up like his dad ~ dead.

The younger daughter, a fine artist and sculptress with a promising future, doesn't make a move unless mom and dad approves.

The plot is frustrating at time, which it's supposed to be. It does it's job in getting you involved and caring about these people's lives, wanting things to heal.

The healing takes place once the father has died. His patriarchal grip binding the family together to the end.

Under the Influence has realism, dealing with a very real issue in a real way. It has a great ensemble cast, a great supporting cast and I was very suprised and pleased with this movie.

This fine film features one of Keanu Reeves first performances. Who would have guessed he would have become such a big star at the time this film came out. Griffith is compelling as Noah a long time alcoholic with a long suffering family. His wife basically closes her eyes and denies everything, one of his son's runs away and becomes a comedian joking about his dysfunctional family, his daughters become suicidal and his son is an alcoholic to. This isn't a happy bunch by any means, but this film delivers a powerful message about alcoholism and its effect on a family. Its gritty, unsentimental and pulls no punches. Next to Murder In Coweta County, I think this is Andy's most chilling performance. He definitely doesn't play the sheriff from Mayberry here.

This movie is an excellent learning tool for family systems and alcoholism. All of the basic roles of an alcoholic and/or dysfunctional family are portrayed in this film: Alcoholic, Hero, Scapegoat, Mascot, Lost Child, Enabler. This film shows how alcoholism is a family illness and how all family members are affected by it. The film also shows how other family members may develop drug/alcohol problems and also act as enablers no matter what "main" role they play in the family. Andy Griffith and Keanu Reeves along with the rest of the cast do an excellent job in this made for TV film. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is interested in learning more about family systems and alcoholism and the affects it has on the family.