Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Joanna Kerns

Writers (WGA):

Neal Marlens (television series)
Christina Lynch (written by) ...

Release Date:

16 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The Seaver parents sell their house and plan to retire.

Plot Keywords:

Panic Room

Cast

Alan Thicke	...	Dr. Jason Seaver
Joanna Kerns	...	Maggie Seaver
Kirk Cameron	...	Mike Seaver
Tracey Gold	...	Carol Seaver
Jeremy Miller	...	Ben Seaver
Ashley Johnson	...	Chrissy Seaver
Chelsea Noble	...	Kate Seaver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johnny Alonso	...	Mickey
Michael Arata	...	Exterminator
Evan Arnold	...	Richie Franzkopper
P.J. Davis	...	Fiona
Justin DuBose	...	Robbie Seaver
Mi'cah Ducros	...	Sara
Maggie Eldred	...	Travel Agent
Kelsey Ford	...	Anna
Jerry Lee Leighton	...	RV Salesman
Kelly Collins Lintz	...	Fiona
John McConnell	...	Foreman
Matthew D. Miller	...	Fatz (pool player)
Natalia Nogulich	...	Mike's boss
Stephen Occhipinti	...	Ukrainian Crewman #2
Brittany Robertson	...	Michelle Seaver
Billy Slaughter	...	Costco Clerk
Josh Wexler	...	Ukranian Crewman #3

Also Known As:

Growing Pains II: Home Equity (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Green-Epstein-Bacino Productions

Trivia:

Mike's cell phone has a musical ringtone, and once, when it rings at the Seaver house, Carol tells him, "You know, that's really annoying." The ringtone on Mike's phone is "As Long As We Got Each Other," the "Growing Pains" TV theme.

Quotes:

[Mike's phone rings with the first six notes of the theme song]
Carol Seaver: Ugh, that is *so* annoying!

Movie Connections:

Follows The Growing Pains Movie (2000) (TV)

Cell Phones Run Amuck

No way! Another Growing Pains reunion movie!? I wasn't sure what to think but all I knew was I just had to see it. Now that I have I can VERY safely say this movie does not deserve a single "10" rating. No way, no how. It is beyond me how anyone can think this is worth an A+. It's very difficult for any Made-for-TV movie to achieve anything beyond B+ and most are worth C or less. Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers had nothing to bring this to a level of artistic excellence, nothing to make a sane person believe this is an awesome movie, one of the best ever made. Ummm... no. Just no. What this movie did contain was a little bit on enjoyment, though, I will admit. I used to watch the old TV series up until the final couple seasons and I did recently watch the first Growing Pains reunion movie from four years ago. Interestingly, in this movie there was absolutely no mention of mom Maggie Seaver's (director Joanna Kerns) position in the U.S. Congress. She was elected in the last movie, wasn't she, or was that just a primary? One other thing of particular interest was the fact that daughter Carol (Tracy Gold) was married to and pregnant by a man who she did not marry in the first movie... but both this dude and the last dude were campaign managers. Hmm. So, we're led to believe Carol got divorced and remarried to another campaign manager in four short years? Youngest son Ben (Jeremy Miller) and youngest daughter Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) were both back again and finding their way in the world. Kirk Cameron was well featured as oldest child Mike finding his way also but as the parent of a young teen dealing with leaving his family for a year to work in Japan. One thing I found unfortunate was Kirk Cameron didn't really get to showcase his devotion to God and God's importance in life. ABC and Disney don't really go there but this movie did have some good family values never-the-less and adopting another child was mentioned which is so wonderful considering how many starving, dying orphans there are in the world. Joanna Kerns did a decent job directing, this being her sophomore effort. Last but not least I'll mention father of the clan Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke) was probably the best, as he was in the last movie. I'm not sure what it is about him... very laid back a lot of the time, letting the jokes fly with ease, like the "166 episodes" remark. Other mentionables about the movie - the Growing Pains souvenir sweatshirt, Mike Seaver souvenir t-shirt, Mike's old leather jacket that got a Leonardo DiCaprio comment from his daughter. Got a great laugh outta that! The cell phone addiction was disgusting to watch, truly a sign of the negative impact of cell phones on American society. Kind of funny was that Mike's cell phone ringtone was the TV show's old theme song and Carol's remark about it was so right on. So, overall this wasn't too bad but like I said absolutely nothing to put on an A+ pedestal. This gets a grade of C+... maybe one day years from now I'd watch it again. Maybe they'll make another in four more years?! I wouldn't mind.