‘Mr. Mom’ With Bill Simmons and Amanda Dobbins
October 11, 2019 · Mr. Mom (1983) · Comedy · Drama · 59:36 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Half-Assed Internet Research
Amanda DobbinsAgrees Keaton lost conclusively to Hanks; notes the movie lacks typical guilt/shame themes about working mothers; observes it would be viewed differently in 2019▶ 11:38
Bill SimmonsMichael Keaton turned down Splash to do Mr. Mom; 10-year Hanks vs Keaton rivalry like Bird vs Magic; producer quote about Mr. Mom entering vernacular and representing stay-at-home fathers; Roger Ebert gave it 2/4 stars calling it a 'lost opportunity'▶ 10:19
Most Rewatchable Scene
Amanda DobbinsThe utilities scene - Keaton versus the washing machine and vacuum, plus the ironing grilled cheese scene▶ 23:10
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: firing scene with Michael Keaton, Jeffrey Tambor and Christopher Lloyd; chainsaw scene when Martin Mull visits; house attacking the family scene; elaborate race scene; Halloween confrontation scene▶ 16:35
What's Aged the Best
Amanda Dobbins1980s parenting style - no helicopter parenting, kids treated independently, accepting that staying home with kids is hard work▶ 31:03
Bill SimmonsAbrupt endings from 80s movies - they would just end without dragging on, unlike modern comedies that tack on unnecessary scenes▶ 30:02
What's Aged the Worst
Amanda DobbinsThe idea that a dad would know how to do nothing around the house - men now know basic tasks like laundry and how to plug in a vacuum▶ 35:31
Bill SimmonsThe early 80s punk babysitter with purple hair, Eric Hipple poster (mediocre Lions quarterback), the abrupt ending style, incompetent dad trope, and the B2 sexual harassment scene▶ 34:01
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsLikes where they ended up with the actual casting choices over the alternatives (Chevy Chase, Michael Douglas, Steve Martin, John Travolta for male lead; Karen Allen, Jane Curtin, Farrah Fawcett, Sally Field for Carolyn role)▶ 39:54
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsTeri Garr — Terry Garr (despite not being good in this movie, but with Tootsie, Mr. Mom, and Letterman appearances) and the concept of 'Mr. Mom' because they created it▶ 50:23
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Amanda DobbinsThe entire ending logic is incoherent - the cause and effect doesn't make sense with sales being down after Keaton left, but Jeffrey Tambor claiming he tried to cover for him▶ 54:44
Bill SimmonsHow Keaton gets his job back at the end with the other two guys when Jeffrey Tambor somehow doesn't get fired despite fudging numbers▶ 54:28
Who Won the Movie
Amanda DobbinsMichael Keaton — Agrees that Michael Keaton won the movie, praising his likability and charm▶ 55:53
Movies Referenced (34)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 14:38 |
| Modern Times (1936) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 0:08 |
| Out of Time (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 53:00 |
| Philadelphia (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:49 |
| 2012 (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 51:25 |
| A League of Their Own (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:49 |
| Beverly Hills Cop (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 50:49 |
| Chariots of Fire (1981) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 28:47 |
| Clueless (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 44:11 |
| Den of Thieves (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 59:11 |
| Forrest Gump (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:54 |
| Freaky Friday (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:43 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 5:41 |
| Ron Howard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 9:22 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 11:02 |
Actors Referenced (35)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Keaton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 25 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Spotlight, The Founder | ▶ 0:29 |
| Jeffrey Tambor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Hellboy | ▶ 16:59 |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 8:50 |
| Aaron Spelling | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Charlie's Angels, Mr. Mom | ▶ 5:24 |
| Diane Keaton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | Annie Hall, Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 3:18 |
| Martin Mull | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Jingle All the Way, Mr. Mom | ▶ 17:08 |
| Meryl Streep | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | Out of Africa | ▶ 47:07 |
| Michelle Pfeiffer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | What Lies Beneath | ▶ 44:44 |
| Drew Barrymore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | Charlie's Angels, 50 First Dates, Never Been Kissed | ▶ 8:09 |
| Eric Hipple | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 34:18 | |
| Henry Winkler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Night Shift | ▶ 9:24 |
| Bruce Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Die Hard, Pulp Fiction | ▶ 11:11 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Meyers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin | ▶ 58:35 |
| Harvey Weinstein | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Shakespeare in Love, The Hateful Eight | ▶ 36:21 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:21 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 19:12 |