Mr. Mom (1983) Online

Keatons first lead role after his successful "Night Shift" debut in 82 was this family comedy about a laid off auto worker who takes over at home as his wife (Garr) goes back to work. It is a bit unbelievable that Keaton, after years of having a family, would not know how to operate the washing machine or vaccuum cleaner. But he was so perfect at being silly I had to let it slide. Its a little like a fish outta water story as he has to go to the unfamiliar market, do numerous chores around the house and learn the right way to drop off the kids at school in the morning ("South to drop off, moron!"). Plenty of good moments from a comedic and dramatic standpoint, as Keaton and Garr deal with her being away from home so much. Mull becomes a foil for her as her new boss, having a case of the major league hots for his star employee. Im sure Keaton will always be remembered as Batman, but this will always be my fave of his in one of John Hughes ("The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Buellers Day Off") more unknown works. Good, harmless fun.

Of all comedies that I have seen in my 23 years, "Mr. Mom" has got to be one of the best and funniest of them all. I have been a fan of this movie since I was about 4 years old! To be exact, I think I taped three different copies on cable and network until I bought it on video and finally on DVD!

Michael Keaton plays Jack Butler, who, along with several co-workers, loses his job at an auto plant due to layoffs. To make ends meet, wife Caroline (Teri Garr) gets a job at an advertising agency, and he stays home with the kids. Easy, right? Absolutely not! From out of control vacuum cleaners, washing machines and toasters, to the neighborhood ladies, including Joan (Ann Jillian), who has her eye on Jack, running the household is horrendous. On top of this, Caroline is climbing the corporate ladder. But success comes with a price in the form of long hours, travel, and persistence from boss Ron (Martin Mull), who sets his sights on Caroline. Can Jack and Caroline keep the family together despite these woes?

It is my belief that "Mr. Mom" is one of the best comedies of all time, and features Michael Keaton and Teri Garr at their best. People of all ages should see this movie. It shows how successful familial role revearsals have the power to be, and demonstrates how to challenge previous stereotypes about career and family. A great film not to be missed!

Going into this film, I expected some trite family comedy with a lot of cheap gags involving things like the normal guy trying to change diapers. That's why I was really impressed. I enjoyed it a lot! This movie proves why it's a shame that Michael Keaton has turned to "Michael Who?" in the eyes of Hollywood. I hope to God he doesn't start doing direct-to-video crap like some once-popular actors. He is a true talent with impeccable comic timing!

The script is well-written. Though you can call it predictable, it deserves to be predictable. Besides, the plot turns make sense in the context of the characters, and don't feel contrived. The film delivers a fine message without suffocating you with corny sentiment. And Keaton's wonderful performance keeps the film airtight.

There are many hilarious moments. The gag in which Keaton plays poker with a group of homemakers, using coupons instead of money, is absolutely priceless! Plus, I felt for the characters and when you feel for the characters, the jokes are always funnier. When Keaton gets himself into one dilemma after another, I was laughing because I felt sorry for him, and that's the key to physical comedy. You have to care for the character's intentions.

"Mr. Mom" is a funny, sweet, kind-hearted family comedy that doesn't cater to any particular age group. At first glance, it looks an anti-parenting film that manipulates us guys into thinking, "Geez, I'm never gonna have a kid." But as Keaton's character goes through his arc, your attitude changes along with his. Go see it! A truly entertaining movie that's likable in all aspects!

My score: 8 (out of 10)

This is a funny movie. And, not very many comedies can say that - most unfortunately. Michael Keaton was great. I'm not a big Teri Garr fan, but she was more than adequate as a second banana in the film.

If you have no children, are a man, and have never had to raise any children even for a weekend, then you will certainly appreciate this movie. Everyone should appreciate it, but those of us who have never had the "pleasure" of changing a diaper will probably identify the most.

I cannot imagine how this movie only got a 6.1 on IMBD. I have never known anyone who did not enjoy it.

Mr. Mom is, yet again, one of those movies that I have been watching since I was a kid. This is one of Michael Keaton's best movies I think, forget Night Shift and all that. Keaton's greatest strength is comedy. Mr. Mom is well put together, is always funny, and never lags. It does a brillant job of protraying role reversal and the rest of the cast makes this movie a joy to watch. Everyone is good, singling someone out for special praise is unnecessary. I hate kids in movies but I loved the kids in this one. It's because they are not annoyingly cute or naughty or too sweet, they're just normal kids. Bottom Line: This is a great movie and every movie fan and family should have it on the shelf.

Michael Keaton gets laid off from his cushy job and figures he will be called back very soon, but that does not happen. Thus wife Teri Garr finds an advertising job really fast and it is up to Keaton to care for their three young children in this admittedly funny, but somewhat under-achieving comedic venture. Martin Mull steals every scene as Garr's new boss and Ann Jillian sizzles as the couple's next door neighbor who has her eye on Keaton. Not bad, but not real good either. Middle-of-the-line entertainment. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

I know it seems weird to say this about a John Hughes film, but I honestly think this is one of the great films of all time. There are so few movies that are so.. flawless. The script is hilarious. The editing is seamless. Every line is quote-worthy. The acting is spot-on. Michael Keaton is at the top of his game, Terry Garr is a comic genius, and the casting is perfect.

The story is both goofy, and rather deep. It conatins at least a dozen of my top 100 all-time favorite movie 'moments'. Its the kind of film you see late at night on TV, and you start watching a few minutes, then suddenly before you know it, you've watched the whole thing AGAIN. Obviously, I highly recommend this film, and encourage more filmmakers to study it, because they just don't make 'em like this anymore.

Seriously,

I mean, who really gets tired of seeing Michael Keaton playing a housewife? There's just no equivalent to this when it comes to great comedy. I've seen it countless times, and can't believe how little recognition this film actually gets. The main plot of the movie is that Keaton gets fired (or laid off, I can't honestly remember, it's been so long since I've seen it...) from his job, and ironically enough his wife wants to go to work for an advertising company. Reluctantly he agrees, and what follows is just pure chaos. He loves his wife, but at times you get the feeling not enough to keep doing the daily, mundane rituals, he feels woman should be stuck with doing.

It's a great comedy and an awesome rent for anyone over the age of 10. A film that you could actually watch with your kids, and still not have them get certain underlying jokes.

A 9 out of 10 in my estimation. 10 being the highest that is, and the reason I give it a 9 and not quite a 10, well....I guess you'll just have to watch it to make your own decision about that.

And that's my review.

Mr. Mom launches two careers, Michael Keaton's as well as John Hughes'. Mr. Mom was Hughes' first major script and it was Michael Keaton's first major role. Michael's super as Mr. Mom. Michael Keaton starts as Mr. Mom and he goes on to be Johnny Dangerously, Beetlejuice, Batman, Doug, Jack Frost and among many other good parts. John Hughes starts with Mr. Mom and he moves on to write Summer Vacation, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Home Alone are just a few of his numerous good films.

Michael Keaton is one of my very most favorite actors. He's so funny, and good. I love Michael Keaton! He really does make Mr. Mom a hit. Teri Garr's so good too, and the kids are great. Mr. Mom is a likable comedy adventure and very approving.

Mr. Mom makes light at suburbia family home life in a lackadaisical manner. It's lighthearted fun. Mr. Mom is unbound by categorical type restrictions of classification. It's widely amusing. Mr. Mom has a cultured and impetuous personality that's adequate for the viewing. It's kind family fun. Mr. Mom has firm and flexible humor, able to transfer into alternating comedic forms with certainty. It's lovably funny. Mr. Mom invites a relating relationship with the viewer displaying familiarized family issues. It really touches home. There's nothing heavy about Mr. Mom, just a friendly flowing showing.

Mr. Mom (1984)

*** (out of 4)

An auto-engineer (Michael Keaton) gets fired from his job so his wife (Teri Garr) must go out and get a job to support the family. This leaves Keaton at home to take care of the kids and house. This is a film I use to watch countless times when I was little because it seemed it was showing up on HBO at least twice a day. I hadn't watched the movie in at least twenty years before this viewing and it held up well for me even though it's clear that it's certainly not a masterpiece or anything too special. The screenplay by John Hughes is pretty light from start to finish but the majority of the humor works thanks to the performance by Keaton. Keaton comes off very likable and he handles to the change from family man to coach potato very well and he manages several laughs. The best moments are when Keaton becomes obsessed with soap operas, which include a very fun dream sequence. Garr is also good in her role as are Jeffrey Tambor and Martin Mull in their supporting roles. I really can't sit here and type why this film works for me outside of its charm. I'm sure many will find the film too silly to enjoy so perhaps it's something nostalgic for me.

MR. MOM (1983) **1/2 Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Ann Jillian, Jeffrey Tambor, Christopher Lloyd. Amiable domestic comedy with recently downsized auto engineer nice guy Keaton becoming the household ruler and Garr out to bring home the bacon with sleazy ad exec Mull makes for some chuckles thanks to John Hughes' warm script and silly scenarios.

Despite the overall cute tone and the TV-movie production values, "Mr. Mom" is a blast, thanks primarily to a truly funny lead actor. Writer John Hughes takes the role-reversal premise of an engineer having to stay at home while the wife reenters the workforce, and places it smack in the middle of the early-80s recession (which lends the movie a solid authenticity).

Most of the comedy derives from Keaton's earnest portrayal as he navigates the jungles of housewifedom (supermarket chaos, hostile vacuum cleaners and falling into stay-at-home complacency) and seeming ease with being the movie's comedic fulcrum. Hughes' script plumbs the depths of a working man faced with the daunting responsibilities of domesticity for laughs, while colliding the housewife's experience with the the corporate boardroom mentality.

Things could easily have slipped into generic chick-flick territory. But Keaton makes all the difference.

7/10

Jack and Caroline are a couple making a decent living when Jack suddenly loses his job.

They agree that he should stay at home and look after the house while Caroline works.

It's just that he's never done it before, and really doesn't have a clue...

This is one of those fish out of water movies, that is really only funny thanks to Keaton and the chemistry he has with the children.

Hughes has gone for the predictability factor with this, and although it's very pleasing to watch, you cannot help but feel that a wealth of better material could have been added.

we have the boss who wants to marry Keatons wife,the inevitable watching of the soaps (which is quite funny) and of course, men do not know how to use household appliances.

But Keaton pulls this out of the doldrums, and thank heavens he has such a great supporting cast.

The narrative flows freely and makes the film easier to digest, but one cannot feel tat this could have been so much more.

At least this doesn't have much of a Chance of being re-made, as it wouldn't be very original or unique now.

Parts of this reminded me of "Freaky Friday"; the runaway washing machine and the various workers buzzing around confusing 'mom' to no end. Not a bad show, but I felt as though I had been through it all before. Had I dropped into the middle of this film without seeing the opening credits there is no way I would have recognized Michael Keaton: I only knew him from his later work.

I am an unrepentant child of the 60s. My formative years were during this time of new roles, questioning authority and more freedom. My dear wife, on the other hand, is Gen X to the bone. One of our few regular areas of disagreement? The films of the 80s.

A case in point: Mr. Mom. Despite the appealing performances of Keaton and Garr, and two admirably sleazy villains (the always-good Mull and Tambor), this film comes across as a feature-length infomercial for traditional gender roles. Keaton is a true fish out of water as a fired exec now raising the kids, while bored housewife Garr returns to work and encounters sexual harrassment, overtime and mandatory travel. Though both eventually succeed at the role reversal, in the end the marriage is threatened and Garr decides she is happier as a full time mommy, leaving the better-adjusted Keaton to the big, bad world of business.

The year that this film was made (1983) is instructive. The new freedom of the 60s and early 70s was ancient history. The Reagan years and their resultant Social Darwinism were in high gear; women who could afford it were being advised to leave the high-powered jobs to the "more fit" men, go home and have babies. Mr. Mom represented an exaggerated depiction of this return to traditional, socially defined roles for men and women. Whether the media became more conservative in response to Reaganism, or whether entertainment led the way to more conservative views, is a moot point. The end result—a noticeable rightward shift in our entertainment—was the same. Mr. Mom was one of the first Hollywood films to reflect the nation's conservative mood...there would be many others. These films are largely laughable today, and remain worthwhile mainly as an exercise in sociology, illustrating how movies both reflect and change the culture that produces them.

Writer John Hughes was capable of producing brilliant films, as he proved with 'Pretty in Pink', 'Breakfast Club', 'Some Kind of Wonderful' etc. He was also however capable of churning out daft comedies like this one.

It's not great unfortunately, very much in the same mould as 'Three Men and a Baby' in the sense that it thinks that men can't look after children.

Michael Keaton tries his best, but this film is not a classic.

This tale of the early 1980s recession has Jack Butler (Michael Keaton) losing his engineering position with a Detroit automaker, which requires his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) to go to work in the advertising business. Caroline naturally is quite successful while her predictably inept husband has all kinds of trouble managing a household full of young children. Caroline's boss Ron Richardson (Martin Mull) has eyes for her, while Jack's lecherous neighbor Joan (Ann Jillian) has eyes for him. The story is wrapped up in a predictable manner, and everyone seems okay at the end.

The plot--as usual in these kinds of films--requires that the male character (Keaton) be a complete and utterly inept loser while the female character (Garr) is very professional and can do no wrong. It's a common theme in movies nowadays, and was beginning to become common in 1983. A visitor from outer space who watches this movie would conclude that men are so stupid that they couldn't possibly exist without the wise guidance of women. It's really pretty offensive at times.

Jillian and Mull are great as the second leads (maybe better than Keaton and Garr) and the story moves along quite quickly. If you can get past the "stupid man" part of the plot you'll likely enjoy "Mr. Mom", but remember that it doesn't reflect reality at all.

This is the Michael Keaton we all know and love.

The nice guy, the lovable slob, the lug who tries to do the good thing but messes up one detail or another then gets it right by the end.

"Mr. Mom" makes his frantic antics the highlight as he loses his job in an auto plant just as his wife (Garr) gets one at an advertising firm. He's then left to do things Dad's way, kids and all.

Most guys (most, I said) know how to operate household appliances and read the directions on the laundry detergent. But there are guys who just have to do it there way to show it can be done...even if it can't. And in Keaton's case, it can't. And he proves that more than once here.

He's the whole movie, basically; the macho can-do guy trying his best not to let the piles of housework, shopping, school routes (south to drop off, north to pick up) and daily advice from other housewives get him down. And John Hughes' script is subtle and fun; this was long before he watched too many cartoons, mind you.

In the end, all is well in the average American household and Keaton, Garr and Hughes demonstrate once and for all that, guys, it doesn't kill you to pick up after yourselves once in a while.

Seven stars for "Mr. Mom" - eight if you like "The Young and the Restless".

I have no idea why this movie was labeled comedy/drama. There's nothing dramatic about here, just pure funniness!

This movie is an underrated gem. I wasn't even alive in the 80s and I love it. I first saw the movie as a young girl and it Quickly became one of my favorites. Perhaps it has such low ratings because the film is kind of dated. While it is dated, it's still really funny.

To this day, my family and I still quote Lines from the film. Some of my favorite lines include "220..221..whatever it takes" and "we weren't even in aisle 7!" There also so many more memorable lines in the movie. Give it a chance and you may be surprised!

This is kind of dated and sexist now, a man who doesn't even know how to run a vacuum cleaner. But still, Michael Keaton makes it work some how, by just being very silly! Terri Garr is the perfect foil for him, and Martin Mull all but steals every scene he's in. An easygoing film that is definitely 'of it's time', but fun anyway.

This movie is a mess. The plot veers around from lame comedy to drama to adulterousness back to cartoonish slapstick. I expected something along the lines of 3 Men and Baby with lots of "men can't handle being a parent" gags. This one is focused almost entirely on the parents (Keaton and Garr), with the kids being peripheral to the story.

The blatant product placements became annoying (Lite Beer anyone?) About half way through, one of my family members said what turned out to be what we were all thinking, "This is really bad!"

I think, more often than not, that I get caught up in these deeply rooted dramas that are more disturbing than entertaining. I love films that break the mold of the modern movie and go beyond what Hollywood 2000 is currently releasing. It seems to be the same old recycled material that has been in place for the past four years. Maybe we are experiencing Hollywood's 'rut', or maybe there is something more, but films today just don't seem as personal as they once were. This is especially true in the comedies where bathroom humor comes first and plot development is somewhere in third or forth. What ever happened to films like Mr. Mom? Did we become too good or to technologically advanced to ever create films like this again? If this is the case, it is very frightening to see this change in events. Mr. Mom represents one of Hollywood's early chapters. This was the chapter of comedy that placed genuine human settings in very humorous situations. It was when ideas sold the film instead of sex or violence. It was a time in Hollywood when writers were paid to use intelligence instead of just whatever the kids will laugh at. Sadly, this chapter no longer exists, thus we are forced (willingly!) to watch films like Mr. Mom over and over again without any disappointment in our eyes. In a way, I hope that Hollywood doesn't revert back to this style of film-making so that it doesn't ruin my perception of 80s comedies.

If you couldn't already tell, I really enjoyed this film. There was just something about it that stood out for me. I think it had something to do with the simplistic nature of this film. There wasn't any convoluted plots, any dark sinister tumbles, any overplayed characters, or even any wildly confusing settings. This was a very simple film and it worked at every level. With the simplistic nature of the film, you could easily fall in love or feel a connection with Keaton's Jack. The family, although fabricated by Hollywood, seemed like one of your own or at least one that is not too far away from your own. There was a sense of ownership with this film that is missed in today's cinema. The chemistry between Garr and Keaton only helped add more enjoyment to this film. The continual 'motherly' things that Garr did while not at home were not just funny, but somehow poignant. It reminded me of my childhood and those days when my father had to stay at home while my mother went to work. It was real life, or at least felt closer than what we see in the theaters today. There were money issues, dirty homes, and small televisions … everything the American family needs to see.

Where the real humor occurs is in the home during the day. Keaton has the best ability to take simple chores and create disastrous, yet completely laughable, moments. His interactions with the kids are impeccable. You can see from the quote above the type of language he uses around one of his youngest children. This is a scene where it is time for the kid to give up his 'security' blanket and move forward in life. Simply put, Keaton does fantastic as the stay at home mom. He combines moments of Uncle Buck with the pensive nature of Steve Martin. He is a comic, while Hollywood seems to dub him for other roles.

Perhaps that is why this film grabbed me as tight as it did. Mr. Mom reminded me of the classic family structure and also how our world has changed so much since this film. The 'Mr. Mom' idea is very relevant in today's society. Men are staying at home with the children while mothers are the sole providers. It isn't embarrassing or uncommon to see this anymore. Also, this was one of those films where 'nothing' happened outside the house. We are never taken outside the house into the real world for any extended period of time. We never see any newspaper articles or any television news, only soap operas and radio shows. While we can assume that there is a bad economy going on out there, we are never given a hint on how bad it is. This again allows us to stay focused on the family. It allows us to fall in love with them without worrying that anything bad will happen to them. We believe, throughout this film, that they are the best representation of family possible. They forge through any adversity and yet still come out on top. This would be a perfect film for families to watch together that may have some struggles in their lives. It would help them to see a family that works together for the common good.

Have I strayed off this film too much? I don't think so. This movie was more than just the story of a man accepting the role of the mother, but also a quick glimpse into the future. It was an American family story that would be perfect to watch at any point in your life. While the humor is enticing, what is most enjoyable to watch is the family and its reactions to adversity. It fills you with hope for all of us as we enter into any unknown times in our lives.

Too philosophical? I don't know, all I know is that I loved this film and cannot wait to watch it again. Keaton steals the show and proves that he is more than just a regular 'Joe' in Hollywood!

Grade: ***** out of *****

This 1983 comedy is a real gem. No matter what the one star reviews below so ignorantly say. It's definitely one of the best jobs Michael Keaton has ever done. The movie has funny written all over it. It's too bad the people down below have no sense of humor. Keaton stars as Jack Butler, a man who is laid off from his job. As soon as he is, his wife (Teri Garr) decides to go back to work and gets a great job. Poor Jack is now home dealing with all of the normal, everyday things that you usually do. He is raising the kids, doing the dishes, laundry, making dinner. He has even started to watch soaps and hang out the neighborhood ladies. Grocery shopping is a nightmare for him. The review on this page stated that the movie is sexist. Please. People make arguments over something that's not even there. Sigh. This movie has many classic scenes as well as dialogue that you can repeat over and over. The supporting cast includes a number of familiar faces: Martin Mull, Jeffrey Tambor, and Christopher Lloyd. This is a wonderful family comedy that deserves a lot more attention than it got.

Funny how things have changed since then. With the poor economy and the changing gender roles in society today, it's not so uncommon to find a man staying at home with the kids. More women are working than ever before, and more than half of the married women are the breadwinners of their families. It might have been a little strange back then, but it's become more commonplace now. Who knows? Maybe someday we'll go back to these simplier times. I see a world of slightly more courtesy in their working worlds, well behaved kids, and little to no dysfunction.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

This movie starts off with a traditional family setup until engineer Jack (Michael Keaton) gets laid off by the car company. Before he could get another job, his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) gets hired by Ron (Martin Mull) for an ad job.

This is definitely one of those comedies that suffers from the passing of time. That era is gone especially for the dad side. It's really superficially silly now especially the home and grocery stuff at the beginning. It was probably a little silly back then as well. The mom side of the movie is still good. As he gets more into housewife mode, it gets more realistic. The movie's heart is always in the right place. John Hughes is able to write a very nice light hearted family movie for his first big hit.