36
Metascore
20 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 60Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzArizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzThis is the first time in ages some of the old stand-up Crystal shows through, flashes of quick wit instead of Borscht-belt antics. Not to the extent that it used to in such movies as "When Harry Met Sally ..." (which was, ahem, 23 years ago). But better than you'd expect...Just like the movie.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenThe Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenBilly Crystal and Bette Midler hustle to peddle the threadbare material that makes Andy Fickman's comedy a perfectly tolerable, if uninspired, moviegoing experience.
- 50Boston GlobeWesley MorrisBoston GlobeWesley MorrisParental Guidance is overly generous with regard to the silliness. However, it's not clueless. Crystal seems determined to give as generously as he gets. When a bully whacks him, Crystal covers the bully in vomit. Good for him.
- 50San Francisco ChroniclePeter HartlaubSan Francisco ChroniclePeter HartlaubPerhaps anticipating an older audience, most of the lessons are one-sided, with the old-timers seemingly harming the children while actually saving them.
- 40VarietyBrian LowryVarietyBrian LowryThe execution, alas, prevents this from being a genuine crowdpleaser, with the better moments (mostly of the schmaltzy variety) more than offset by the irritating and tedious ones.
- 40Austin ChronicleAustin ChronicleThe actors deserve credit for the professionalism they bring to this stinker, especially Tomei, who plays it straight as a contemporary have-it-all-or-die-trying mom, and Midler, who's given little to do, but works up an amusing backstory about her days as a good-time gal on the evening news.
- Lazy, smugly self-satisfied movie.
- 38USA TodayScott BowlesUSA TodayScott BowlesThe movie spends too much time wedging the couple into a May-December moment, where Crystal cracks nostalgic about the good old days. It's sweet, but it grows old.
- 16The A.V. ClubNathan RabinThe A.V. ClubNathan RabinParental Guidance is the abysmal grandpa/grandkids bonding comedy he's (Crystal) been destined to make since he first started creating new comedy with an unmistakable old-person smell.
- 12Slant MagazineSlant MagazineAndy Fickman's comedy offers a confused and flat portrayal of generational differences.