Dad (1989)

William Wharton's startling and moving novel about fathers and sons got an above-average film adaptation from TV's Gary David Goldberg, who wrote and directed. While the film couldn't capture the sadness and wonder of Wharton's worlds-within-worlds construct, it did get exactly right the notion of how one closes the distance from a parent or a child. Danson plays an ambitious businessman forced to put work aside to care for his aging parents (Jack Lemmon and Olympia Dukakis) when his mother is hospitalized. Mom, it turns out, is a domineering dictator who has stifled Dad all these years; with her out of the way, Dad suddenly recognizes the possibilities of his own life. Meanwhile, Danson's estranged son, Ethan Hawke, comes home as well, allowing the two of them a rapprochement. Lemmon is particularly good (and almost unrecognizable). --Marshall Fine Amazon.com

One of the most wonderful movies ever.

If many of my other reviews have been read, then it is recognized that I can be quite verbose and sometimes eloquent.

This review requires neither (though is worthy of both)... but the title speaks volumes. DAD truly is one of the most wonderful movies that I have ever viewed.

... and Jack Lemmon is phenomenal. He truly deserved a Golden Globe, at the very least.

Please watch this movie... even the coldest of hearts will be warmed. March 27, 2008

very pleased

very pleased with this product. affordable, perfect condition! it took a day or two longer than had been expected, but after tracking the item, it might have been the postal services fault. January 29, 2008

A Shadow of an Important Novel

Does the name of Ted Danson ring any bell? It doesn't? No wonder, Ted was the "star" of some early 80s soap opera who wanted to become a real actor. Unfortunately, his choice for the path to stardom was the movie made of William Wharton's "Dad". The story had to be refashioned to be more glitzy - a painter became an actor. The result is rather grim and, if you haven't read the novel, difficult to follow. The story is sad - the book is saturated with nostalgia for what the heroes missed in life or realized too late to enjoy fully - the film is so so.
And there is one moderately funny bit - Jack Lemmon and Olympia Dukakis through the film look as if they both wanted to ask one and the same question - What am I doing in this movie??? They are doing their best but it is not enough to save and Ethan Hawke is too young to make a difference. January 26, 2008

Soberbia película

Nos encontramos ante una de las mejores películas norteamericanas de todos los tiempos. Esta producción da cabida a un extraordinario mosaico de actuaciones al conjugarse, además, con un guión y una fotografía de ensoñación.

January 14, 2008

Realistic, offers insight if you haven't gone through this.

I purchased this movie to use with a Death and Dying inservice I am teaching to hospital based nursing staff. Due to time restraints I will not be able to show all of the movie but could use ANY part of the movie, it is all that good and realistic. The movie is full of real life situations that children of aged/failing/dying parents face every day. The acting was great, the situations real. You could feel Ted Danson's emotions right through the screen, your heart just ached for him. Jack Lemmon's performance is absolutely amazing. His character changes many times and Jack gets it right on. There are multiple stories within the story going on. The length is good, the wrap up is great. I cannot believe how MUCH they put between the beginning and end of this movie. The elderly mother's reactions to her husband getting attention were right on as were the physician interactions shown. I cannot recommend this enough!
I should say that this works well with Wit and Tuesday's with Morrie (film version).
If you have living parents go and buy this movie. Watch it. As a nurse we see this every day. As an adult child with parents you only live through this once. This will give you a heads up, along with some potential coping skills! January 6, 2008

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