Mr. Mom

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Starring: Michael Keaton
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Stan Dragoti
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: 2000-04-25
Funnyman Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice) teams with Teri Garr (Tootsie in this "fresh and funny audience pleaser" (Boxoffice) that's all housework and no pay! Jack and Caroline Butler (Keaton and Garr) are perfectly happy with their roles in life until a layoff makes him a househusband and her a working wife! And while she wrangles with charts, graphs and an all-too-eager-to-be-wrangled boss, he has to contend with their hyper kids, a ravenous vacuum cleaner, an angry washing machine and an oversexed neighbor (Ann Jillian of TV's "It's A Living")! From late nights in the boardroom to lonely nights in the bedroom, the biggest challenge for both Jack and Caroline is learning to trust one another with their reversed roles which they'd better do quickly before Mr. Mom becomes Mr. Single Mom!

Mr. Mom still entertains after 25 years ...
I just saw this movie after not seeing it in many years. Hard to believe it's been 25 years since it was released. Times certainly have changed, but so many things have stayed the same.

Michael Keaton is Jack, a working, everyday white collar employee in Detroit working for the auto industry who finds himself out of a job. In a somewhat odd twist of fate for the early 80s, his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) finds a job and goes to work, leaving him to care for the house and kids. Jack is now a house husband, caring for the kids and giving into the hilarity of being a stay at home Mom. This goes on for months on end and Jack gives into the tedium of being a stay at homer. He gives into the endless hours of daytime television, letting the house go, letting the kids overtake him, not knowing or caring enough to learn the ropes of running a house, and having the tension mount between him and Caroline.

There are a series of screwball comedy antics between him, the kids, the household chores, and trying to keep it all under control, and the classic battle of the sexes theme is always there (a man trying to keep things under control in a woman's world). He adopts a clique of women friends, even being chased by a shark of a divorcee, Joan.

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.

"Do it the Jack Bulter way"
The storyline to this 1983 comedy is quite formulaic and predictable if you've seen enough movies. It's a role reversal comedy that has Michael Keaton playing the stay at home dad and Teri Garr playing the bread winning mom. As perhaps unoriginal as the story may be, I challenge other viewers to find a better and more wholesome comedy that touches on the subjects of role reversal, unemployment, and child raising without crossing the zany line. For the most part "Mr. Mom" is able to touch on some real critical every day issues with a winning and light touch, keeping us giggling and smiling along the way. This isn't a comedy that has you belly laughing, it's a chuckling movie with memorable parts.

I've always felt Michael Keaton always brought a sincere character to the screen whether he played Beetlejuice, Batman, or Jack Butler. Jack is Mr. Mom, who gets laid off work and cannot find a job before his wife does. Teri Garr plays Carol Butler who has instant success as a marketing assistant. While Jack is trying to learn how to hold down a household with three kids, crazy appliances, and personal hygiene woes, Carol finds herself climbing the corporate ladder but disappearing in her role as mom on the home front. I think the movie works because it doesn't try to introduce us to a wacky household like most other comedies try to do in order to garner some unearned laughs. All the characters are quite believable and a lot of the events are things that every household can relate to or find humorous.

My warnings for this film is that as much as this is an easy family film, it does deal with adult issues and situations. I always thought that Jack being shanghaied to a male strip club was in bad taste given the kind of audience it will attract; and the tempting Joan trying to seduce Jack may be inappropriate for a family audience. There's also some mild language to watch out for. I grew up watching Mr. Mom and I had no issues resulting from watching this movie as a kid.

The few one star reviews you will read are either incoherent or those folks confused this film with a Will Ferrell like comedy. If you want a relaxing comedy that's good hearted and contains some funny, memorable parts then look no further. You should enjoy this one.

Still a riot!
Mr. Mom is still a hilarious and entertaining film after 25 years. Michael Keaton and Teri Garr are a hoot together, they play Jack and Caroline who have three children. Caroline decides to go back to work after Jack gets the boot from his job, he becomes the "mom" and laughter and crazy antics ensue. This movie is pure delight, I highly recommend this timeless treasure, enjoy!

Mr. Mom Always Funny
When we realized that our copy of Mr. Mom had gone missing, we ordered another copy. This is one of our all time favorites, and anytime we need a pick me up or a laugh, this is an oldie and goodie!! Thanks for having it.

Mr. Mom
Purchased this for a friend of mine who is in fact a stay at home DAD. Perfect gift!