Toughlove

Here's one of my "Schoolhouse Cinema" attractions! I saw this film twice in my middle to high school years. Twice, I did writing assignments for my health / phys. ed. classes about it! Isn't it ironic, don't you think? Turning back the clock when I was in my teens, TOUGHLOVE had expressed a specific point about teenagers who become enraged following incidents of drug use. At that time, folks my age needed plenty of motivation and awareness, since the movie was based on a plaguing and rising epidemic in modern society. ANGEL DUSTED would probably be another example of 80s accounts. This one is alright as a made-for-TV movie that centers around a discussion forum for parents whose kids are temper-tantrumed by drugs. There are some levels of hope, suffering, and anger, but it doesn't provide enough emotional values to make this a "serious" drama. The best thing you can prove about TOUGHLOVE is the parents who grieve and concern over a son once perfectly normal. In the end, despite all troubles, the son and his family all live happily ever after. Consider showing this one to your sons or daughters who could someday become drug addicts without warning. Still, this is strictly entertainment fare, and not something a health organization would present.

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.

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.