History Film / Parenthood

* MoodWhiplash: The movie treats very serious and important family issues in a comedic manner (often

* ConMan: In addition to being a [[TheGamblingAddict degenerate gambler]], Larry is also a pathological liar peddling in fraudulent GetRichQuickSchemes. Frank mistakes Larry's glib talk for a genuine entrepreneurial spirit, but wises up when Larry tries to steal his favorite car on the pretext of getting it "appraised".

* UglyGuyHotWife: The less than handsome Nathan is married to the very attractive Susan. This is highlighted by Karen's surprised reaction to Susan's claim that she and Nathan once had an extremely active sex life.

* ParentNeverReturnedFromTheStore: Larry tells his father that he's going off to South America on yet another of his "get rich quick" schemes, assuring that he'll return if it doesn't pan out and asking him to look after his son in the meantime. His son, at all of [[WiseBeyondTheirYears four years old]], is savvy enough to bluntly ask his grandfather, "Is he ever coming back?" To which his grandfather just as bluntly answers, "No".

* UglyGuyHotWife: The very attractive Susan is married to the less than handsome Nathan. This is highlighted by Karen's surprised reaction to Susan's claim that she and Nathan once had an extremely active sex life.

** Gil mistakes Helen's vibrator for a flashlight during a power outage and reassures him that it's perfectly normal behavior.
** Tod has a talk with Gary about [[SexualEuphemism "slappin' the salami"]].

''Parenthood'' is a 1989 comedy-drama film directed by Creator/RonHoward and starring an ensemble cast including Creator/SteveMartin, Creator/MarySteenburgen, Creator/DianneWiest, Creator/JasonRobards, Creator/RickMoranis, Creator/MarthaPlimpton, Creator/KeanuReeves, and a very young Creator/JoaquinPhoenix.

* AbusiveParents: Revealing some of his HiddenDepths, Tod tells Helen about how his father used to "flick lit cigarettes" at his head.

* ChildrenAreInnocent: Despite being savvy enough to ask if his departing father is ever coming back, Cool is utterly unaffected by the news that he isn't, even though he's now been abandoned by ''both''of his parents.

* CoversAlwaysLie: The poster makes it look like it'll be another wacky Steve Martin comedy. It's more drama than comedy and the humor is more adult and subtle. We do get a taste of authentic Steve Martin standup comedy when he plays "Cowboy Gil" at Kevin's birthday party when the original entertainment, "Cowboy Bob" fails to show up. His very effective impromptu performance bolsters both Gil and Kevin's confidence
* DeadbeatDad: Helen offhandedly mentions to Susan that it's been very hard to get child support from her ex. Especially disgraceful considering that (a) He's a dentist and surely making enough money to provide for his children, and (b) He's evidently a loving father to the kids he has with his new wife, indicating that he genuinely doesn't care about Julie and Gary anymore.

* HateSink: Helen's unseen ex who abandoned Gary and has no interest in a relationship with him. In a film where almost every major character and parent is given [[HiddenDepths sympathetic qualities]], he stands out as nothing more than a neglectful, selfish jerkass who both Gary and Helen are better off without.

--> '''Cool''': My dad's going away.
--> '''Frank''': Yes.
--> '''Cool''': He's leaving right away.
--> '''Frank''': Yes
--> '''Cool''': Is he ever coming back?
--> '''Frank''': No.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Gil mistakes Helen's vibrator for a flashlight during a power outage and reassures him that it's perfectly normal behavior.
** Tod has a talk with Gary about [[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow "slappin' the salami"]].

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Larry's son is named Cool.

Gil ends up having to spend more time at work not only due to an expanding family, but also because of the office politics where he works. His siblings deal with their own issues as well: younger brother Larry (Tom Hulce) refuses to grow up, dumping his problems -- and son -- on their aging parents; Helen (Wiest) deals with her teenage daughter Julie's (Martha Plimpton) pregnancy and elopement with Tod (Reeves) and her son Garry's (Phoenix) abandonment issues; and Susan (Harley Kozak) deals with her husband Nathan (Moranis) and his harsh academic training of their preschool-aged daughter.

* TangledFamilyTree: Helen's baby girl is born after Julie's, meaning she's slightly ''younger'' than her niece/nephew.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Gil mistakes Helen's vibrator for a flashlight during a power outage.

* HateSink: Helen's unseen ex who abandoned Gary and has no interest in a relationship with him.

* WhoNamesAKidDude: The family are all a bit taken aback by the fact that Larry's son is named Cool.

* SelfBackingVocalist: Nathan comes to Susan's school after she leaves him to win her back by singing "Close to You" demonstrating that he is willing to loosen up. He sings both the lead and the supporting vocals together, as effectively as is possible for one voice in real time. Every time she tries to put him off he breaks in with another part of the song. Eventually she relents.

* SelfBackingVocalist: Nathan comes to Susan's school after she leaves him to win her back by singing "Close to You" demonstrating that he is willing to loosen up. He sings both the lead and the supporting vocals together, as effectively as is possible for one voice in real time.

* CoversAlwaysLie: The poster makes it look like it'll be another wacky Steve Martin comedy. It's more drama than comedy and the humor is more adult and subtle. We do get a taste of authentic Steve Martin comedy when he plays "Cowboy Gil" at Kevin's birthday party when the original entertainment, "Cowboy Bob" fails to show up. His very effective impromptu performance bolsters both Gil and Kevin's confidence

* WhereDidWeGoWrong: After Gil and Karen are told that Kevin needs to see a child therapist and is in danger of being left back, they immediately start pointing fingers at each other.

* WhereDidWeGoWrong: After Gil and Karen are told that Kevin needs to see a child therapist, they immediately start pointing fingers at each other.