Mr. Mom

Plot synopsis:
Jack Butler is an engineer at an automobile manufacturing plant in Detroit, Michigan. He lives with his wife, Caroline, their two boys, Alex and Kenny, and their infant daughter, Megan. Jack has a decent life and a decent home in the suburbs.However, Jack's job seems to be stressful for him; he and his coworkers, whom he carpools with in the morning, all talk about their lack of sleep from the night before. When they drive in one morning, they talk about rumors of layoffs at their plant. Their supervisor, known only as Jinx, tells them not to worry about losing their jobs. The rumors persist while Jack talks to the assembly line workers.Jack is called into Jinx' office during the day and finds out that he and the two men he and Jinx carpool with are being laid off. Jinx tells them that they'll be asked to come back at an undetermined time in the future. The guys are not convinced.At home, Jack talks with his wife about finding another job and also having some time off to do work on the house he'd been planning. When Caroline, a former advertising expert, tells him she'd put her resume out on the job market as well, Jack suddenly becomes competitive, challenging her to a wager where the first of them to get a job will win $100. Some time later, Caroline wins the bet and goes to work for a prominent advertising firm. Jack becomes a stay-at-home-father and takes care of the kids, the errands, and the house during the day.Jacks first few weeks at home are mostly a disaster: he discovers that the vacuum cleaner has a mind of its own and rampages around the house, he's inept at operating the washer and dryer, three repair-people come in one day and the baby eats chili. Jack also has trouble at the supermarket and he misunderstands the procedure for dropping Alex off for school. He also draws too much attention from one of his wife's more attractive friends, Joan, who is divorced.As Caroline's career takes off she becomes an employee prized by her boss, Ron Richardson. At her first staff meeting, Caroline looks over the firm's ideas for one of their flagship clients, Schooner Tuna and, though she is constructively critical, receives scornful remarks from the rest of the staff. Caroline realizes that they are overworked, stressed out and have little or no experience similar to her's with regard to food prices or shopping.Months later, Jack has not been called back to his work at the auto factory and there are no other jobs available in his line of work or similar fields. Jack becomes increasingly depressed, wearing the same flannel shirt every day (without laundering it), he gains weight, lets his beard grow ungroomed and drinks beer while watching soap operas. His attention to his kids even wanes a bit which makes it more difficult for him to convince his younger son, Kenny, to give up the baby blanket he carries around for security. One day, while watching a soap opera, Jack daydreams that Joan stops by. He begins to talk about his strained relationship with Caroline; Joan takes off her raincoat and is dressed in sexy lingerie. While Jack kisses her, Caroline walks in and finds them. She pulls out a gun, affixes a silencer to it, and threatens Jack. A struggle ensues and Jack is shot. As he dies, Ron Richardson appears and walks off with Caroline and Jinx appears and says that the auto factory was going to call him back to work. Jack wakes up, cancels the weekly poker game with Joan and decides to clean up his act. He gets the kids to follow a morning routine to get them off to school on time; he exercises with Caroline's friends and loses the weight he'd put on, and he fixes up the house. At one point, we see him throwing his flannel shirt into the fireplace, a gesture meant to encourage Kenny to give up his security blanket. Kenny refuses and Jack has a man-to-man talk and convinces his son to give up the blanket.At a party thrown by Richardson at his palatial mansion, Jack is egged on by Richardson himself to compete in a race involving toys and other obstacles meant for children. Before the race, Jack, a fair sportsman himself, is persuaded by Richardson's subordinates to throw the race because his wife works for their host. Not wanting to jeopardize his wife's career, Jack stumbles just short of the finish line, preserving Richardson's dignity.Caroline's schedule keeps her away from home more frequently, which has an effect on Jack and the family. Caroline also develops a new strategy for Schooner Tuna; she meets with the company's CEO and tells him that the only way to sell more of his product is to lower the price in light of tougher economic times. The CEO goes almost immediately for Caroline's ideas, which also include filming a TV ad that will express the company's new policy, with an included appeal to consumers. Caroline is charged with going to Los Angeles to aid in shooting the new ad, which takes her out of town on Halloween. Richardson comes to their house to pick Caroline up in a limousine, but before she leaves, Jack talks to her about all the changes the family has experienced in her absence. Caroline still goes with Richardson.A few nights later, while Caroline is still out of town, some of the girls invite Jack out for the evening, leaving one of them, Annette, behind to sit with the kids. As a prank, the women take Jack to a male stripper bar. When he comes home late, he tries to call Caroline in California. Unknown to him and to Caroline, Richardson has snuck into Caroline's hotel room with dinner and champagne to celebrate their Schooner Tuna success; Richardson answers the phone and Jack recognizes his voice. Richardson abruptly hangs up on him. Caroline confronts Richardson, who suggests she leave Jack. She refuses and orders him to leave, punching him in the face when he won't. At home, Jack becomes furious when the phone rings and throws it across the room. He also kicks the TV, shattering the screen.Annette, witness to Jack's meltdown, leaves and tells Joan the next day. Joan takes it as a signal that Jack and Caroline are through and races to his house to talk to him. She stretches out in the bedroom while Jack cleans up in the bathroom. Caroline, returning early from California after her confrontation with Richardson, finds Joan in her bed. When Jack comes out of the bathroom, after a lengthy contemplation with himself about having an affair with Joan, he finds Caroline, who is angry about finding Joan in her bed. The two argue, Jack telling Caroline that he heard Richardson's voice on the phone when he called. Jack storms out of the room saying he has a house to run. Caroline follows him and the two begin to reconcile when both Jinx and Richardson arrive at the house, both wanting Jack and Caroline to return to their jobs. At one point, Jinx yells at Alex and Jack hits him in the face, knocking him to the floor. Caroline tries to tell Richardson that she's quit and Richardson offers her a better working contract. The couple negotiate new employment deals for themselves and agree to return. The story closes with everyone watching the TV ad Caroline helped create.

Tags: satire

Review:
Keatons first lead role after his successful "Night Shift" debut in 82 was this family comedy about a laid off auto worker who takes over at home as his wife (Garr) goes back to work.
Its a little like a fish outta water story as he has to go to the unfamiliar market, do numerous chores around the house and learn the right way to drop off the kids at school in the morning ("South to drop off, moron!").
Plenty of good moments from a comedic and dramatic standpoint, as Keaton and Garr deal with her being away from home so much.
Michael Keaton plays Jack Butler, who, along with several co-workers, loses his job at an auto plant due to layoffs.
To make ends meet, wife Caroline (Teri Garr) gets a job at an advertising agency, and he stays home with the kids.
Can Jack and Caroline keep the family together despite these woes?It is my belief that "Mr. Mom" is one of the best comedies of all time, and features Michael Keaton and Teri Garr at their best.
Going into this film, I expected some trite family comedy with a lot of cheap gags involving things like the normal guy trying to change diapers.
You have to care for the character's intentions."Mr. Mom" is a funny, sweet, kind-hearted family comedy that doesn't cater to any particular age group.
At first glance, it looks an anti-parenting film that manipulates us guys into thinking, "Geez, I'm never gonna have a kid."  But as Keaton's character goes through his arc, your attitude changes along with his.
I'm not a big Teri Garr fan, but she was more than adequate as a second banana in the film.If you have no children, are a man, and have never had to raise any children even for a weekend, then you will certainly appreciate this movie.
This is one of Michael Keaton's best movies I think, forget Night Shift and all that.
It does a brillant job of protraying role reversal and the rest of the cast makes this movie a joy to watch.
Thus wife Teri Garr finds an advertising job really fast and it is up to Keaton to care for their three young children in this admittedly funny, but somewhat under-achieving comedic venture.
Martin Mull steals every scene as Garr's new boss and Ann Jillian sizzles as the couple's next door neighbor who has her eye on Keaton.
The main plot of the movie is that Keaton gets fired (or laid off, I can't honestly remember, it's been so long since I've seen it...) from his job, and ironically enough his wife wants to go to work for an advertising company.
Mr. Mom (1984) *** (out of 4) An auto-engineer (Michael Keaton) gets fired from his job so his wife (Teri Garr) must go out and get a job to support the family.
The screenplay by John Hughes is pretty light from start to finish but the majority of the humor works thanks to the performance by Keaton.
MOM (1983) **1/2 Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Ann Jillian, Jeffrey Tambor, Christopher Lloyd.
Amiable domestic comedy with recently downsized auto engineer nice guy Keaton becoming the household ruler and Garr out to bring home the bacon with sleazy ad exec Mull makes for some chuckles thanks to John Hughes' warm script and silly scenarios..
Had I dropped into the middle of this film without seeing the opening credits there is no way I would have recognized Michael Keaton: I only knew him from his later work..
He was also however capable of churning out daft comedies like this one.It's not great unfortunately, very much in the same mould as 'Three Men and a Baby' in the sense that it thinks that men can't look after children.Michael Keaton tries his best, but this film is not a classic..
This is the Michael Keaton we all know and love.The nice guy, the lovable slob, the lug who tries to do the good thing but messes up one detail or another then gets it right by the end."Mr. Mom" makes his frantic antics the highlight as he loses his job in an auto plant just as his wife (Garr) gets one at an advertising firm.
And John Hughes' script is subtle and fun; this was long before he watched too many cartoons, mind you.In the end, all is well in the average American household and Keaton, Garr and Hughes demonstrate once and for all that, guys, it doesn't kill you to pick up after yourselves once in a while.Seven stars for "Mr. Mom" - eight if you like "The Young and the Restless"..
This one is focused almost entirely on the parents (Keaton and Garr), with the kids being peripheral to the story.The blatant product placements became annoying (Lite Beer anyone?) About half way through, one of my family members said what turned out to be what we were all thinking, "This is really bad!".
With the simplistic nature of the film, you could easily fall in love or feel a connection with Keaton's Jack.
Mr. Mom reminded me of the classic family structure and also how our world has changed so much since this film.
As soon as he is, his wife (Teri Garr) decides to go back to work and gets a great job.
This is a wonderful family comedy that deserves a lot more attention than it got.Funny how things have changed since then.
This movie starts off with a traditional family setup until engineer Jack (Michael Keaton) gets laid off by the car company.
Before he could get another job, his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) gets hired by Ron (Martin Mull) for an ad job.This is definitely one of those comedies that suffers from the passing of time.
John Hughes is able to write a very nice light hearted family movie for his first big hit..
It stars Michael Keaton, Teri Garr and Martin Mull.
Plot sees Keaton as Jack Butler, who after being laid off from work, is forced to become as house husband when his wife Caroline (Garr) lands a good job with Schooner Tuna.
But good honest comedy is just that, honest, and for those looking for a good chuckle whilst admiring the talent of a pre-Batman Keaton, Mr. Mom is a bad mood lifter.
Lines which Keaton delivers with the comic timing not befitting someone just starting out in films.The fun is mined from Jack being hopeless at basic household chores whilst badly tending the three young children at the same time.
This coincides with his wife Caroline (Garr adorable) advancing well at work, but paying a price for it by being away from the family home far too much.
There's also the looming presence of Caroline's smarmy boss (Martin Mull delightfully sleazy) and the good time girl (Ann Jillian sexing it up) who has her eye on Jack for fun and frolics.
Simple-minded fun is ensured from this charmingly light-hearted suburban family comedy penned by John Hughes, produced by Aaron Spelling and starring the likes of Michael Keaton (after his break through performance in "Night Shift" the year before), Terri Garr and the comic actor Martin Mull.
It showcases the work of two outstanding comedic actors: Teri Garr and Michael Keaton.
When Jack (Michael Keaton) loses his job working for a large automobile company his wife decides to get a job at and advertising company so that they won't suffer financially.
Great roles for Teri Garr,Martin Mull, and Michael Keaton.
Fun to watch Garr and Keaton try to be successful as they switch roles at home & at work.
An Entertaining Family Comedy that made Michael Keaton a star....
MOM, a warm and funny family comedy which stars Keaton as Jack Butler, an automotive engineer who gets laid off and can't seem to get another job anywhere else.
In order to make ends meet, Jack's wife, Caroline (Teri Garr), who gave up a brief career in advertising to be a stay-at-home Mom, decides to go back to work and is instantly hired at an advertising agency, which forces Jack to settle into being the stay-at-home Dad. It's hilarious watching Jack cluelessly trying to deal with his kids, shopping, laundry, and other domestic duties.
This film is a joy from start to finish, thanks to a clever screenplay and the impeccable comic timing of Michael Keaton..
It's about a guy who gets laid off and his wife ends up getting a job and he has to stay home with his kids.It really funny how he starts to act like a mom.
it was fun, and hilarious to see michael keaton in  this role as a working man, who's wife  becomes the working girl, and he becomes  a househusband.
You can see that by the fact that it stars Teri Garr and a Michael Keaton who looks like he's just graduated from high school.
Director-Stan Dragoti and his actors-Michael Keaton as well as Teri Garr tackle a serious subject in a funny manner..
Actor Michael Keaton gives an incredible performance as an out of work man who is compelled to stay at home in order to look after his children.
Jack (Michael Keaton) has been laid off, and his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) takes over working for a while, as Jack stays home to raise the kids.
Also starring Jeffrey Tambor and Christopher Lloyd.This film is not only really funny and a great example of John Hughes' writing, but definitely a film of its time.
First, the casting of Teri Garr and Michael Keaton was an excellent choice for the role of yuppie couple.
Michael Keaton plays a husband who was laid off from work and now has to deal with running the household.
The rest of the cast is right there behind him supporting him all the way.What's extra great about this movie is that it is a comedy yet has tender, tense, and even one risque' moment all handled superbly by director and actors.If you want to have a fun, relaxed, entertaining movie, then "Mr. Mom" is perfect!
From start to finish it was a great family/comedy movie that made me laugh a lot.
So many good and funny scenes with dad learning to play the mom role.
The concept is passable, and there are some engaging moments too.'Mr.Mom' tells the story of this middle-class family, of whom, the man of the house is suddenly sacked from his job and is given the responsibility to become MOMMY of the house, as the real mommy needs to work and earn money.
Now, the man of the house, isn't use to doing all this MOMMY stuff, so he has to make it a point that he learns the rules.'Mr.Mom' begins well, but honesty, this is not a hilarious movie.
Stan Dragoti's direction is decent, and so is the Cinematography.Michael Keaton is the life of 'Mr.Mom'.
OK, so "Mr. Mom" ain't exactly "Masterpiece Theatre," but it's a very good, solid comedy that holds up surprisingly well today.Michael Keaton is one of those actors who I've always found to be intensely likable, no matter how good or bad the movie he happens to be in.
And conversely, it also understands the difficulty in balancing a challenging career with home responsibilities.Teri Garr is her usual adorable self as Keaton's wife, and Martin Mull is a little too good as her smarmy boss.Grade: A-.
I think it helped that the movie trailer at the time perfectly illustrated Keaton's character's dillemna, in addition to the obvious film title.
Now, in conclusion, if you are a fan of Michael Keaton or Teri Garr, you're in for a good time and lots of laughs, so see this movie today..
Michael Keaton, in an early hilarious role, plays Jack Butler, a car designer who is laid off from his job and now puzzled to find work.
So now Jack must become the stay at home dad, while Caroline becomes the breadwinner.What makes the film funny is the subplots.
Some of my favorites include Jack's first meeting with Caroline's boss Ron (With unforgetable quotes like "220, 221..Whatever it takes" or "How would you like a trim on that mustache, Ron?" lol); Jack getting hit on by Joan (Ann Jillian is hot as a redhead) as he becomes "one of the girls"; His confrontation with Jaws; and the kids toilet papering the auto plant bathroom lol.Michael Keaton would continue to do comedy until 1989 when he made his first Drama piece Clean & Sober.
Because I like Michael Keaton and Martin Mull and Terri Garr.
Mr. Mom launches two careers, Michael Keaton's as well as John Hughes'.
Mr. Mom was Hughes' first major script and it was Michael Keaton's first major role.
Michael Keaton starts as Mr. Mom and he goes on to be Johnny Dangerously, Beetlejuice, Batman, Doug, Jack Frost and among many other good parts.
John Hughes starts with Mr. Mom and he moves on to write Summer Vacation, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Home Alone are just a few of his numerous good films.Michael Keaton is one of my very most favorite actors.
Jack and Caroline are a couple making a decent living when Jack suddenly loses his job.They agree that he should stay at home and look after the house while Caroline works.It's just that he's never done it before, and really doesn't have a clue...This is one of those fish out of water movies, that is really only funny thanks to Keaton and the chemistry he has with the children.Hughes has gone for the predictability factor with this, and although it's very pleasing to watch, you cannot help but feel that a wealth of better material could have been added.we have the boss who wants to marry Keatons wife,the inevitable watching of the soaps (which is quite funny) and of course, men do not know how to use household appliances.But Keaton pulls this out of the doldrums, and thank heavens he has such a great supporting cast.The narrative flows freely and makes the film easier to digest, but one cannot feel tat this could have been so much more.At least this doesn't have much of a Chance of being re-made, as it wouldn't be very original or unique now..
Despite the appealing performances of Keaton and Garr, and two admirably sleazy villains (the always-good Mull and Tambor), this film comes across as a feature-length infomercial for traditional gender roles.
<SPOILER>Though both eventually succeed at the role reversal, in the end the marriage is threatened and Garr decides she is happier as a full time mommy, leaving the better-adjusted Keaton to the big, bad world of business.</SPOILER>The year that this film was made (1983) is instructive.
This tale of the early 1980s recession has Jack Butler (Michael Keaton) losing his engineering position with a Detroit automaker, which requires his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) to go to work in the advertising business.
It's really pretty offensive at times.Jillian and Mull are great as the second leads (maybe better than Keaton and Garr) and the story moves along quite quickly.
Having just made a splash in "Night Shift", Michael Keaton got another really funny role in "Mr. Mom".
As struggling dad Jack Butler, he and wife Caroline (Teri Garr) decide to switch roles: he'll stay home while she works.
He wrote Mr. Mom, and although, not as significant or funny as 'The Breakfast Club' or 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', it still represented a reasonably popular and somewhat iconic film on the gender role in the 1980s.Michael Keaton plays Jack Butler, hard-working father of three children, who finds himself in a pickle when he and his colleagues are fired from his manufacturing car company.
His wife, Caroline (Teri Garr), manages to get a job in advertising, and the roles are reversed so to speak.
Anyway, Jack finds himself learning the ropes of being the stay-at-home dad, while Caroline begins to excel selling tuna as her new boss Ron (Martin Mull from "Roseanne") begins to take more than liking!
Meanwhile, Caroline gets caught up in her work in more ways than one.This early 80s comedy is quite funny, even though some stereotypes may not be accepted now.
Keaton does well with or without a beard, and Teri Garr was quite funny too.
One of those was Stan Dragoti's "eighties" comedy, "Mr. Mom".The story tells a role swapping tale about new househusband Jack, who finds himself in charge of his home and three feral kids when he loses a bet with his wife.
At least for me.When I watch this movie, I remember what it felt like to be home during the day with my mom and sisters, watching daytime t.v. and cleaning house.
In a nutshell - Auto worker Jack Butler (Keaton) loses his job, thus prompting a role reversal with wife Caroline (Garr), who goes back to work in advertising while Jack tries to master the dangers of the household - including a mad vacuum cleaner - when not fending off his oversexed neighbor (Ann Jillian).
Michael Keaton plays Jack Butler, an engineer who is currently laid off from work.
He has a hard time finding new employment, and his wife, Carol (Terri Garr) suggests that she look to return to work instead.
So, as the movie suggests, there is nothing wrong with a man taking care of the house and family while his wife goes off to work.
Michael Keaton plays Jack Butler, a father and husband who loses his job as an engineer in auto manufacturing plant.
Unable to find work, his wife, Caroline (Terri Garr) is instead offered a job at an advertising company while Jack is now the one to tend to the domestic duties.
Caroline keeps her job at the firm, and Jack, for the time being (they don't say if he looks for work again), stays Mr. Mom.
The movie is quite charming thanks to the lead actors, Michael Keaton as the witty husband and Terri Garr as his often charming wife.