Daddy

I first saw this movie when I was a freshman in high school, and the film has stuck with me through the years. It's not about the soundtrack, or cinematography, or even the dialogue and somewhat bad acting, it's about the educational purpose, and the message behind that is the most important. It's not a sin to have a child when you're a teenager and still in high school, and it's not really a bad thing, either, but it is a problem. Tons of girls I knew are all having children now, and I guess they never watched this great movie, and if they did, they clearly didn't get the message behind it all. It's about not taking chances when you're in a sexual relationship. Any girl can get pregnant the first time. It's not a myth. You don't necessarily lose out on your dreams, but they do have to take a backseat in your future because you have a child to think about first.

This movie has a clear message behind it: JUST SAY NO!

Ok...we all remember after school specials. "Daddy" is so much better. We had to watch it in my high school health class, and let me tell you, it quickly became a favorite. All of the urban legends on how NOT to get pregnant come to life in this movie. Come on!!! To hear Dermot Mulroony say "but I pulled out, how can you be pregnant?" is so beautiful, because he really does look confused and you know that as stupid as it seems, some people actually learned a lesson from this movie. I just get entertainment every time I see it. Everyone who watches "Daddy" should end up happy. (and informed!) Oh, and if you like this movie, look for another made for tv movie starring Calista Flochart as an anorexic-bulimic. Shocking, I know.

Very realistic and accurate portrayal of the difficulties teenagers have dealing with pregnancy and a baby without being the least bit preachy. No teenager is prepared for the emotional and other challenges of raising a baby. To those who think the emotional difficulties were overdone, I can assure you that they were not. Growing up, there was a teenager just down the street for which this movie could serve as a biography for his teen years. His girlfriend became pregnant. They had to drop out of school to raise the baby. He worked at a low paying menial job (in the movie the job was a busboy). He was stuck at home and couldn't go out with his friends nor go to college as most of his friends did.

In the movie, the couple went on welfare which again is quite common among teenage parents. Most teenage parents never escape poverty. Let that sink in for a moment. It's not that teenage parents initially struggle before achieving some financial success; most teenage parents will live in poverty their entire lives. Statistically speaking, teenage pregnancy is the surest path to poverty in existence.

I also liked the fact that the movie dealt with two sexual myths which gives the movie some educational value. The first, which I never understood, is the myth that you cannot become pregnant on your first time. No, as long as everything is functioning correctly, you can get pregnant the first, second, third, or potentially any time. In the movie, they got pregnant on their first time which they didn't know was possible.

The other myth is that the "pull and pray" method is guaranteed to prevent pregnancy. "Daddy" was perplexed as to how his girlfriend became pregnant when he always pulled out in time. He asked one of his teachers whether it was possible to get a girl pregnant when you pulled out in time. He correctly explained that sperm is still present before ejaculation and hence, it is possible to get somebody pregnant even if you "pull out in time."

I really thought this wasn't that bad. Not a great work of art but Dermot M was the stronger performer by far. Patricia Arquette was overacting much of the time. He was actually playing cello which was very impressive, and his lines were never forced. Besides, he is an incredibly Beautiful Man. Really sexy. Add that to the talent, and most anything he's been in is a lot more tolerable. He always gives his all even if some of the projects he's been involved in didn't quite hit the highest mark.. Not the fault of the actor in most cases. He's unfortunately been in some strange films that just didn't resonate at the box office. Always with A-list actors but just not always a "hit". But he is "worth every penny" of any DVD rented or purchased. See The Wedding Date with Debra Messing - one of his best overall films. WORTH EVERY PENNY! ; ) (if you haven't seen it yet, do, then you'll understand that quote!)

Okay people, give this movie a break! This (TV movie, need I remind you) was filmed in 1987. It's not going to hold up to today's standards for movies, not even television movies! Most of the people writing these comments probably weren't even alive in '87. I was; I was in high school and the movie left an indelible impression on me. I was left not only more informed and slightly frightened about the possibilities of getting pregnant before I was psychologically and financially prepared for it, but also, and just as important, with a crush on Dermot Mulroney that has lasted to this day. Stop trying to make this movie compare to the latest Soderberg. It ain't, it won't and it's never gonna. It represents a particular time in our society. Yes, perhaps if teachers want to truly get across to students in this day an age, they'll show a movie starring Lil Bow Wow, but until he plays a high school daddy who has to quit school to care for his child, 1987's Daddy will have to suffice.