Artie and Diane Decker agree to look after their three grandchildren when their type-A helicopter parents go out of town for work; Problems arise when the kids' 21st-century behavior collide... Read allArtie and Diane Decker agree to look after their three grandchildren when their type-A helicopter parents go out of town for work; Problems arise when the kids' 21st-century behavior collides with their grandparents' old-school methods.Artie and Diane Decker agree to look after their three grandchildren when their type-A helicopter parents go out of town for work; Problems arise when the kids' 21st-century behavior collides with their grandparents' old-school methods.
- Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations total
- Barker Simmons
- (as Kyle Harrison Breitkopf)
- Brad Zolick
- (as Justin Kennedy)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
In regards to the modern methods of parenting techniques, there are two opposites of parenting presented: first, the red haired Russian shrieking "practice, practice, practice" method; and second, the soft version of baseball where no-one given out method intended so that there is no ugly competition and just good clean fun. The first type is deemed to produce uptight children and the second type deemed to produce stuttering, diffident children or children with imaginary friends. So, it is up to the grandparents to come in to the picture and sort this out. The solution of course, you might have guessed, fun in its various forms; feel good but not a real answer or revelation.
Without Billy Crystal, this movie would probably end up like every other movie in the same mold; the shrieking screaming kids running around in a McMansion with busy stressed out parents with one hand managing the kids and with the other hand managing their jobs; the parents desperately in need a change to solve their problems. Throughout the movie, Billy Crystal is relaxed and smooth talking and first provides the calmness to the dizzying hyperactivity of the family and then sparkle with his comedy to take us through the predictable second half.
Overall, it's a generic family movie but elevated by Billy Crystal. However, it's still a movie bogged down by its uninspired family dynamics.
Everyone played their part well. Especially the kids (although their movie names could have been better) So, Artie (Billy Crystal) is a baseball commentator who's the father of Alice (Marisa Tomei). Artie and his wife Diane (Bette Middler) are unwillingly invited to watch over their grand-kids for a week. Based on previous experience, Alice is concerned over how they would handle her kids (who are overly disciplined) What follows is a week long fun ride with unexpected situations arising due to Artie who is put at blame. The youngest is especially a challenge. There are no plot twists here so as expected everything turns out well in the end.
Don't expect stellar performances, but I'm sure you'll love the kids! I don't think this would garner any Oscars but it's sometimes these feel-good movies (genuinely funny) that make your day. Definitely a must-watch for the holidays with all your family members!
I like Billy Crystal and Bette Midler. I like their chemistry. I like their 'old fashion' ways. But some really stupid scenes destroy any chance this movie had. Grumpy Billy Crystal has some funny moments. Bette Midler is likable as the peacemaker. But by the middle of the movie, they just piled on one too many ridiculous premise to accept, and the movie falls apart.
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie was shot in late fall-early winter. The grass at the Atlanta home was dead, and had to be digitally colored green.
- GoofsWhen Artie is searched by the TSA there are (what appear to be) U.S. Marines behind him to his right wearing desert camouflage uniforms. U.S. Marines are not authorized to wear camouflage uniforms off-base unless authorized by their command(s). Also, from October 2011 through March 2014 Marines did not wear their sleeves rolled up.
- Quotes
Drayton Glass: We're looking for guys who Tweet.
Artie Decker: I'll tweet, I make any kind of noise you want.
- Crazy creditsThere is one final scene, after the end of the credits.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.48 (2012)
- SoundtracksPossibilities
Written by William Peterkin, Barbara L. Jordan (as Barbara Jordan) and Daniel Mark Thompson
Performed by William Peterkin (as Pete Peterkin)
Courtesy of Heavy Hitters Music Group
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Le choc des générations
- Filming locations
- Johns Creek, Georgia, USA(OceePark)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $25,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $77,267,296
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $14,554,053
- Dec 30, 2012
- Gross worldwide
- $119,772,232
- Runtime
- 1h 45m(105 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1