Giving "Mr. Mom" a Pass, For the Month
Posted on 10. Aug, 2009 by Brian Reid in General
I was in the video store on Saturday, looking for “Home Alone.” I wanted to demonstrate to the handful of kids we had sacked out at our house what John Hughes was all about, and “The Breakfast Club,” really wasn’t age-appropriate. It look me about 15 minutes to find the film; it was stuck in a special display up front with a bunch of other Hughes movies, including “Mr. Mom.”
I had no idea that John Hughes wrote that particular screenplay, and — quite honestly — it inclined me to view the film that much more charitably. Because, at the end of the day, my problem is not with “Mr. Mom” itself (indeed, the moral of the story is perfectly in line with everything I believe) but with the continued reference, a quarter-century later, to the bumbling-dad clips from the film. I’m also curious to know if anyone has ever seen anything from Hughes talking about his own experiences? (He would have had young kids at the time he wrote “Mr. Mom.”)
So, out of respect for John Hughes, who died last week, I’ll refrain from bashing “Mr. Mom” for the rest of the month.
DCUrbanDad
11. Aug, 2009
I had no idea he wrote that either. Man what a loss.
Working Dad
12. Aug, 2009
I had no idea he wrote “Mr Mom.” Next time I watch one of his other flicks I’ll look for common themes and ideas.
Daddy Geek Boy
13. Aug, 2009
“You fed your baby chili?”
Keith Wilcox
14. Aug, 2009
I didn’t know he did Mr. Mom either. I guess that’s one of those stealth movies that people never attributed to anybody. I’ve hated that movie since the first time I saw it. The bumbling oaf of a father only becomes competent once he starts acting like a mom? Yeah, I remember being a kid and think that was not how dads were at all. But, like you say, to be charitable we have to chalk a bit of it up to overdone dramatization. I’m sure he made lot’s of mom’s happy with his portrayal of an oafish father. To this day I bristle at the term Mr. Mom. I consider myself a better parent than most women. They should call stay at home moms Mrs Dad.