Parental Guidance (2012)

Parental Guidance is the kind of warm, crowd-pleasing comedy that knows exactly what it’s doing: letting Billy Crystal and Bette Midler turn generational culture clash into something genuinely funny and unexpectedly tender. The movie’s charm comes from watching old-school instincts collide with modern, hyper-managed parenting, and then finding the human truth underneath all the chaos—especially as the grandkids’ quirks and pressures start to peek through. It has that easygoing, PG, Saturday-night-with-the-family vibe, with plenty of broad laughs, a few wince-worthy mishaps, and a surprisingly sincere heart beating beneath the jokes. If you’re allergic to sentimental studio comedies or prefer sharper satire, it may feel familiar, but if you want a likable, comforting film that earns its sweetness, this one goes down easy.

Parental Guidance is aiming for a warm, old-school “grandparents vs. modern parenting” family comedy, with Billy Crystal and Bette Midler trying to turn chaos into heartfelt lessons. The problem is it plays like a checklist of predictable sitcom beats—rule-breaking leads to trouble, everyone learns a tidy moral—without many genuinely sharp jokes to justify the runtime. A lot of the humor leans on broad, slightly irritating gags and a flattened generational clash, so if you’re hoping for something clever or fresh, you’ll likely feel your patience being tested. Still, it’s pretty tame and well-meaning, and if you just want a safe, mildly amusing watch with a few sincere moments and likable leads, it can do the job.