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Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Frederick Koehler

When Jack Butler (Michael Keaton) loses his job at an auto factory, he expects to quickly find another. But instead, his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) starts working for an ad agency and Jack ends up taki...( read more  read more... )ng care of the house and kids. He soon runs afoul of shopping etiquette, a voracious vacuum cleaner, and he can't even drop his kids off at school properly. He starts losing his pride and letting himself go. He stops shaving, drinks at all hours, and watches soap operas. And not only does a predatory divorcée (Ann Jillian) have her eye on him, Caroline's new boss (Martin Mull) has more than business on his mind. Will their marriage survive? What makes Mr. Mom work isn't its role-reversal premise, but its clever off-the-main-plot scenes like the obstacle course at the company picnic, where a footrace with swim fins is set to a variation on the theme to Chariots of Fire; a poker game using discount coupons for money; or a traumatic, soap-opera-influenced dream Jack has when he realizes his life is going down the toilet. This is the first starring role for Michael Keaton, who went on to star in Beetlejuice and Batman; he makes the most of both its comic and sentimental side. The script, incidentally, is written by John Hughes, who later went on to write and direct The Breakfast Club and Home Alone. --Bret Fetzer

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56% liked it

32,652 ratings

PG, 100 min.

Directed by: Stan Dragoti

Release Date: July 22, 1983

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DVD Release Date: May 15, 2001

Stats: 769 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (769)

  • stopitgoaway
    August 8, 2009
    stopitgoaway
    (some spoilers) John Hughes certainly helped personify the 1980s as writer and director! Although he didn't direct 'Mr. Mom', he hasn't directed a film in 14 years, which coincides when his writing in the 90s has seen him represent less iconic films and straight-to-video sequels....( read more) He wrote Mr. Mom, and although, not as significant or funny as 'The Breakfast Club' or 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', it still represented a reasonably popular and somewhat iconic film on the gender role in the 1980s.

    Michael Keaton plays Jack Butler, hard-working father of three children, who finds himself in a pickle when he and his colleagues are fired from his manufacturing car company. His wife, Caroline (Teri Garr), manages to get a job in advertising, and the roles are reversed so to speak. Nowadays, we might frown upon this being the premise for a comedy, but back in 1983, attitudes were different. Anyway, Jack finds himself learning the ropes of being the stay-at-home dad, while Caroline begins to excel selling tuna as her new boss Ron (Martin Mull from "Roseanne") begins to take more than liking! Jack finds goes from clueless Dad to successful parent, all the while avoiding the affections of a would-be lover, and trying to get his wife to remember the little things she misses while wrapped in work. He learns that pride in himself, and his family values are what's important, and not selling himself short to get a job back. Meanwhile, Caroline gets caught up in her work in more ways than one.

    This early 80s comedy is quite funny, even though some stereotypes may not be accepted now. I'm sure most guys know how to shop for groceries without wrecking the store, however "clean up in isle?" was quite funny! And, of course, the whole letting yourself go in the unemployment rut and getting caught up in soap operas was also quite funny. Keaton does well with or without a beard, and Teri Garr was quite funny too. Christopher Lloyd is briefly in this movie, and Jeffrey Tambor is good as the disloyal employer. This is reasonably well directed and is Stan Dragoti's most popular film, but it's the writing and humorous commentary on social changes and gender roles that makes this film a winner, particular because John Hughes had a gift for writing good scripts in the 80s (I have no idea what happened in the 90s). And, most people see this as a John Hughes film, although he didn't direct it- but I guess it has his trademark. 'Mr. Mom' wouldn't work as well now in my opinion, although many gender-issue comedies have been made since. However, the workforce is no longer just a man's world, and vice versa. Still, 20 years ago, this film is pretty funny!
  • crackingdanio
    April 29, 2008
    crackingdanio
    Keaton is great here, i think comedy is where he works best look at beetlejuice
  • Chiefilms
    March 6, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Keaton used to be hilarious before the "I Am Batman" and Jack Frost phase.
  • flutieman07
    February 24, 2008
    flutieman07
    Michael Keaton makes this one worth seeing over and over....

    Some of the one-liners and scenes are priceless, and everyone can probably relate to at least one of them.

    There's one sequence dealing with soap operas that's particulary hilarious...AND true!
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 25, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    classic from the old school
  • horrormoviefan
    November 8, 2009
    horrormoviefan
    Good 80's comedy. I am a big Teri Garr fan anyway and Michael Keaton is great also.
  • samanthaseaotter
    October 28, 2009
    samanthaseaotter
    Nice job by all. Formulaic but still works.
  • doctordoom
    October 1, 2009
    doctordoom
    This is a funny comedy from the 80's. About a man who loses his job. His wife gets a new job to support the family and the husband is now taking care of the kids and the house. I enjoy this movie more now as a adult. Some of the scenes are quite funny and so are the situations M...( read more)ichael Keaton is thrown into. Worth a watch.
  • samdugan1
    September 28, 2009
    samdugan1
    all time best movie. 220 230 whatever it takes
  • heated98
    August 11, 2009
    heated98
    Again Michael Keaton makes us laugh with his monster vaccume and the daily chores of life. what a splended way to look at house hold chores and the daily events that happen in most families. i wonder are these sequences from his actual life. Does he pick these roles specifically ...( read more)because they are family oriented. either way he is a great choice for the father role!

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Mr. Mom Trivia

  • Name the actor who has been in all of these movies: Beetlejuice Multiplicity Batman Mr. Mom  Answer »
  • Michael Keaton of Mr.Mom & Batman,his real name was Michael Douglas   Answer »
  • What 1983 movie tag line is : When mom goes to work ,dad goes berserk ?  Answer »
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