The Parenting

There are a lot of talented actors, but the movie itself seems completely lost. It doesn't know whether it wants to be scary or funny, and in the end, it's neither. The only real saving grace is Parker Posey, who, as always, steals every scene she's in with her charisma and energy. Beyond that, the so-called "jokes" feel tired and overused, the character development is clumsy and unnatural, and the pacing is unbearably slow. It drags on without any real purpose, making the whole experience frustrating. What could have been an entertaining film ends up as a messy, forgettable disappointment....

This movie doesn't take its self seriously and is basically a horror rom-com intentionally making fun of clichés and such. It's not reserved whatsoever so prepare to hear things out of nowhere that just make you giggle. The visual effects are mostly practical and not CGI which is where I believe this film gets a rating boost from me. The hate that most horror films receive is the story is not developed and blah blah blah, its a solo horror movie, just take an hour and a half and enjoy this silly little film with some friends or family. Overall the cast was perfect for their characters and it's a fun quick film.

The Parenting (I have no idea why this is the title of the film) is a fun movie on paper but never really lands, much like many of the jokes that the writers clearly tried hard to make work.

Loaded with Posey, Cox, and Kudrow-some of the well-known star cast-you'd feel this film couldn't fail. But it does so spectacularly, more often than not. This film tries to be so many things: a horror-comedy with a progressive storyline, a portrayal of dysfunctional but funny parenting (I assume this is what the title eludes to), and a feel-good family movie with a modern-day romance. Alas, in the end, it leaves you asking for more on all those fronts.

The performances by Posey, Cox, Kudrow, and the rest of the parents are good (though nothing extraordinary). However, the lead pair often seemed to lack both the sharp comedic timing and the heartfelt chemistry this film desperately needed.

That said, there are some funny moments here and there, which might make it worth streaming once.

Just what I was in the mood for. Several laugh-out-loud moments! Nothing mind-blowing, just a fun escape with a little horror sprinkled in. I watched because it was listed as the No. 1 movie this Friday on Max, and I knew Brandon Flynn from 13 Reasons Why, and like him as an actor. Was also obsessed with Lisa Kudrow's character in this; her one-liners had me cracking up. Not too spooky that those who aren't into horror wouldn't enjoy it. The best friend Sara was also hilarious! Such a funny joining-of-families gone terribly wrong, but the band of misfits somehow work together. I would watch again!

I wanted to like it, but If it wasn't for the supporting cast this wouldn't have worked, but they make it watchable. The humor is shallow and clichéd, but the performances are the backbone of this one.

The star power of the cast is really the only selling point here, and without them it's not worth the watch. Brian Cox was hilarious and demonstrated his range once again. Lisa Kudrow and Dean Norris actually complement each other quite well here. Parker Posey breathes life into the tired caricature of the cooky stranger, Edie Falco was meh and the two main characters lack good chemistry and depth.

Not a bad movie, it's just flat. It has redeeming moments, but for the most part, pairing a cast this talented with such a mediocre script leaves a bad taste in the mouth.