Toughlove

This movie has a good concept, but... these have to be the dumbest parents in the entire world! Instead of what it is supposed to show, troubled/problem kids, this movie is about parents who don't have a clue. I don't know about the people who read this database, but if I did some of the stuff the kids do in this movie, my parents wouldn't have hesitated to move my stuff onto the front yard - these parents buy their kid a car! The sad part is that there are parents like this. No wonder the world is so screwed up. Anyhow, skip this movie unless you are a totally clueless parent who needs to learn how to deal with crazy kids.

A charismatic and heartbreaking performance by the late Lee Remick is the centerpiece of TOUGHLOVE, a relative interesting 1985 TV-movie, originally aired on ABC, that is made to be much better than it is because of Lee Remick's performance. Remick and Bruce Dern play upper middle class suburbanites who are at their wits' end regarding how to handle their teenage son, whose drug addiction has his life spiraling out of control and is slowly and methodically destroying their family. Having tried everything thing else, the couple turn to an organization called Tough Love, which teaches parents to go on the offensive with out of control children: If your child is constantly staying out past his curfew, lock the front door at curfew and put the dead bolt on or if your child gets arrested, don't bail him out, let him experience the consequences of his actions. This film chronicles the couples' initial reluctance to be so harsh with their child but soon learn that Tough Love is the only thing that affects their son's behavior. Remick is the conflicted mother, torn between wanting her baby home with her and knowing that as long as she continues to baby her son, he will never change. The scene where they learn their son is in jail and refuse to bail him out is sad and brilliant. Dern and especially Remick give superb performances as does a young Jason Patric as their troubled son, Gary. Despite an ending that's a cop out, this is pretty compelling stuff for most of the ride, thanks primarily to the work of the amazing Lee Remick.

This movie is quite possibly the funniest thing ever to an adolescent boy. My middle school heath teacher had a copy of this and we'd make our substitute teachers play it every time. The scene were Gary(the main, drug-addicted, character) gets caught with what looks like an oz. of shwag weed is HYSTERICAL. Best movie ever. Gary's descent into drug addicting is completely unreasonable. He goes from smoking around a joint per day and living with his parents, to sleeping on dirty towels in a run-down apartment with a huge coke habit, in what seems like days.

"I have one question. Why are you way over there?" -Gary (Jason Patrick)

I saw this film in the classroom. I am doubting about the parental style of the parents. However, I still not be a parent so I can not say anything. I think more and more parents meet the situation but not know how to face it. I do not think it is the best way as the movie show but it can let you think how to face your teenage child.

as a TV-type movie, this one is not bad at all. it is without a doubt OK late night autumn-rainy weekend fare that you don't have to feel ashamed about after watching it. no particularly memorable technical stuff, but nothing too irritating, either. bruce is bruce, and he's enough in this case.

that's one way to look at this movie.

the other way to look at it is to admit this movie into the small but growing number of movies that try to address and educate about the growing world-wide problem of addiction.

taking it as such, and comparing it with others of this ilk, 'days of wine and roses', 'the earl manigault story', and 'family secrets- the suzanne somers story', this movie scores high, and deserves, yes, begs to be seen.

i'm trying to say that this movie is acceptable fare on a rainy autumn evening for anyone except the most fanatical purists. (hey, citizen kane, it ain't, and never wanted to be)

but if you have any questions at all about addictions of any type, this is a movie that you should see. it won't pretend to solve your problems, and it will give you good things to think about.

alvin