When next-door neighbours and best friends Alan and JJ (and JJ's brainy, bookworm younger sister, Delia) enter a contest sponsored by Barrett's Natural Soda, they get their families caught up in a charade of epic proportions.
The contest, as advertised by company owner and president, Ernie Barrett, is as follows: He needs a new family to be the face of Barrett's Soda to launch his secret, new flavor, so he's looking for the perfect family with the perfect qualities to represent his product. The prizes include paying off the mortgage on the winner's home ("if you don't have a house, I'll buy you a house!"); paying the college tuition for the children, and a lifetime supply of Barrett's Natural Soda.
The entrants must write an essay, the subject being why they think their family is the 'Perfect' family for Ernie Barrett.
Both Alan and JJ belong to single-parent, struggling families. JJ's father, widower George, is a down-and-out writer who may have to sell the house and move in with his parents. Alan's mom, Vicki, works and studies, and seems to constantly rely on her mother for funds.
Alan decides to enter both his family and JJ's family in Barrett's contest, claiming they are actually one. With some digital wizardry, he combines two family portraits so they look like a real family. With JJ's help, he writes a glowing essay (with several embellishments and blatant untruths) to convince Ernie Barrett that they are 'the perfect family'.
The real fun starts when Ernie Barrett shows up in person at Alan's home while he and JJ are playing basketball in the driveway. He proclaims that they are a finalist family. He'll make his winning choice just as soon as he's lived with them for one week.....
The kids now must scramble to get George and Vicki (who, before now, were completely in the dark about the entire contest) on-side, and have them pretend they are married and living under one roof.
Both George and Vicki are completely against the idea, since their relationship is already a strained one due to constant squabbles over petty things like property lines and untidy hedges.
They come to the decision to pull out of the contest, since it would be unethical to try to dupe Mr. Barrett. But two individuals claiming to be from the FBI show up, and convince them to remain in the contest. They believe that Barrett's Soda company has been involved in industrial espionage, and has stolen the formula of a rival soda company. The Agents believe Ernie Barrett will be giving out a sample of the soon-to-be-released new flavor to the winning family. They've been instructed to bring that sample directly to them so it can be analysed.
with this new directive, George and Vicki reluctantly agree to keep up the scam.
To quote an oft-used and utterly clichéd (but apt) phrase, "Hilarity ensues"!!
Richard Karn is brilliant as George, as he must deal with an editor from hell, who seems bent on seducing him. Dave Thomas plays up his role as the clueless but kind soda baron. Mary Page Keller has a great role to work with, as she must deal with a doting (but highly unsuitable and boring) boyfriend, and the fact that Alan is still conflicted about his absent father. The 'kids' are also well-cast and shine in their roles as they try to keep up the charade and constantly need to ad-lib with their 'parents'.
You will laugh out loud with this movie. The humour is never inappropriate, and it can truly be enjoyed by the whole family.
Recommended highly. If only they'd release it on DVD...
The contest, as advertised by company owner and president, Ernie Barrett, is as follows: He needs a new family to be the face of Barrett's Soda to launch his secret, new flavor, so he's looking for the perfect family with the perfect qualities to represent his product. The prizes include paying off the mortgage on the winner's home ("if you don't have a house, I'll buy you a house!"); paying the college tuition for the children, and a lifetime supply of Barrett's Natural Soda.
The entrants must write an essay, the subject being why they think their family is the 'Perfect' family for Ernie Barrett.
Both Alan and JJ belong to single-parent, struggling families. JJ's father, widower George, is a down-and-out writer who may have to sell the house and move in with his parents. Alan's mom, Vicki, works and studies, and seems to constantly rely on her mother for funds.
Alan decides to enter both his family and JJ's family in Barrett's contest, claiming they are actually one. With some digital wizardry, he combines two family portraits so they look like a real family. With JJ's help, he writes a glowing essay (with several embellishments and blatant untruths) to convince Ernie Barrett that they are 'the perfect family'.
The real fun starts when Ernie Barrett shows up in person at Alan's home while he and JJ are playing basketball in the driveway. He proclaims that they are a finalist family. He'll make his winning choice just as soon as he's lived with them for one week.....
The kids now must scramble to get George and Vicki (who, before now, were completely in the dark about the entire contest) on-side, and have them pretend they are married and living under one roof.
Both George and Vicki are completely against the idea, since their relationship is already a strained one due to constant squabbles over petty things like property lines and untidy hedges.
They come to the decision to pull out of the contest, since it would be unethical to try to dupe Mr. Barrett. But two individuals claiming to be from the FBI show up, and convince them to remain in the contest. They believe that Barrett's Soda company has been involved in industrial espionage, and has stolen the formula of a rival soda company. The Agents believe Ernie Barrett will be giving out a sample of the soon-to-be-released new flavor to the winning family. They've been instructed to bring that sample directly to them so it can be analysed.
with this new directive, George and Vicki reluctantly agree to keep up the scam.
To quote an oft-used and utterly clichéd (but apt) phrase, "Hilarity ensues"!!
Richard Karn is brilliant as George, as he must deal with an editor from hell, who seems bent on seducing him. Dave Thomas plays up his role as the clueless but kind soda baron. Mary Page Keller has a great role to work with, as she must deal with a doting (but highly unsuitable and boring) boyfriend, and the fact that Alan is still conflicted about his absent father. The 'kids' are also well-cast and shine in their roles as they try to keep up the charade and constantly need to ad-lib with their 'parents'.
You will laugh out loud with this movie. The humour is never inappropriate, and it can truly be enjoyed by the whole family.
Recommended highly. If only they'd release it on DVD...