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Immediate Family

  • 1989
  • PG-13
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
James Woods, Glenn Close, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Kevin Dillon in Immediate Family (1989)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:42
1 Video
23 Photos
Drama

An upscale couple unable to conceive arrange a brokered adoption with a pregnant woman who doesn't hold up her end of the deal to give up the baby.An upscale couple unable to conceive arrange a brokered adoption with a pregnant woman who doesn't hold up her end of the deal to give up the baby.An upscale couple unable to conceive arrange a brokered adoption with a pregnant woman who doesn't hold up her end of the deal to give up the baby.

  • Director
    • Jonathan Kaplan
  • Writer
    • Barbara Benedek
  • Stars
    • Glenn Close
    • James Woods
    • Mary Stuart Masterson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jonathan Kaplan
    • Writer
      • Barbara Benedek
    • Stars
      • Glenn Close
      • James Woods
      • Mary Stuart Masterson
    • 15User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Immediate Family
    Trailer 1:42
    Immediate Family

    Photos23

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    Top cast71

    Edit
    Glenn Close
    Glenn Close
    • Linda Spector
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Michael Spector
    Mary Stuart Masterson
    Mary Stuart Masterson
    • Lucy Moore
    Kevin Dillon
    Kevin Dillon
    • Sam
    Linda Darlow
    Linda Darlow
    • Lawyer Susan Drew
    Mimi Kennedy
    Mimi Kennedy
    • Eli's Mom
    Charles Levin
    Charles Levin
    • Eli's Dad
    Alma Beltran
    Alma Beltran
    • Spanish Woman
    Jessica James
    Jessica James
    • Bessie
    Ken Lerner
    Ken Lerner
    • Josh
    Jane Greer
    Jane Greer
    • Michael's Mother
    Harrison Mohr
    • Eli
    Matthew Moore
    • Jason
    Kristen Sanderson
    • Kristin ('Picasso')
    Merrilyn Gann
    Merrilyn Gann
    • Kristin's Mom
    Wendy Van Riesen
    • Pregnant Woman
    Ashlee MacMillam
    • Girl at Puppet Show
    Nora Kletter
    • Girl at Puppet Show
    • Director
      • Jonathan Kaplan
    • Writer
      • Barbara Benedek
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    6.01.8K
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    Featured reviews

    1fortheroad

    Heartwarming

    Immediate Family is a heartwarming tale about four people who's lives are interwoven by one thing: a baby. Glenn Close stars as a frazzled woman who desperately wants to have a baby with her husband. When it becomes apparent that it can't happen, the couple looks into adoption. Through this, they meet up with a young, unmarried couple who are expecting their first child and want to give it to a nice family. The whole movie revolves around whether are not the young couple will actually go through with the adoption. Glenn Close is absolutely convincing as the very eager, very frightened "mother-to-be". For anyone who's ever loved a child, this is a must see.
    trpdean

    Wonderfully written, realistic portrayal of adoption's difficulty

    I happened upon this on television. I remember when it was released in the theaters, but as a single man, it hadn't exactly been my cup of tea.

    Well, it's wonderful. The portrayal of the two couples is so very well written, so believable, so realistic, so interesting. The acting is simply superb - these actors make these people so sympathetic, so real.

    How wonderfully written this is. There's nothing formulaic about the way these people speak, the way they smile at each other, the small jokes they make, how they move and interact, the awkwardnesses that arise or dissipate, the unspoken sense of threat. Each character seems quite individual.

    I can't single out any one actor - they were all just wonderful. I'm nowhere close to this situation - yet I was very moved. One thing I loved was simply showing how these two couples related to each other - and the different ways they express warmth toward one another.

    The only things I disliked were the excessive use of music - (the fact that I'm not a fan of Van Morrison hurt) it felt like padding. I also thought the ending was somewhat pat.

    All in all, this is really top notch - it shows what talent can do - even where you've no intrinsic interest in the subject.
    5blanche-2

    Not well done

    Linda and Michael (Glenn Close and James Woods) are Linda and Michael who have been unable to have a biological child.

    An adoption agency matches them with a pregnant teen (Mary Stuart Masterson) who agrees to sign away custody. Once the baby is born, she decides to keep the baby and raise the child with her boyfriend (Matt Dillon).

    I do not mean in any way to make light of the plot of this film as family friends went through it, and it's devastating.

    However, I was conned into seeing a preview screening of this where we had to fill out opinion cards. No one in my group gave it a good review. Glenn Close is always good. I thought James Wood was awful as was some of the dialogue and situations.

    I have no idea what was changed in the final film, except I know the ending we saw was added to. It still made back a little bit over the third of its budget.
    mmitsos-1

    Wonderful Little Story

    This film is worth watching for Masterson's performance alone. This drama tells the story of a couple in their late thirties/very early forties who decide to adopt a child after unsuccessful attempts of having their own. The portrayal of the adoption process and its typically attendant series of frustrations appear quite realistic. Unfortunately, another reviewer for IMDb has already given the ending away. However, when Mary Stuart Masterson's character enters the couple's life, it is very touching, and you almost wish the couple would adopt her as well as her baby (I did, anyway). Watching Masterson's character walking around the baby room that the couple decorated is worth watching the entire film, as is the ending. Kevin Dillon delivers a very nice performance, as do, as always, Glenn Close and James Woods. Bring Kleenex.
    7lee_eisenberg

    you might want to see it

    "Immediate Family" is a look at the vicissitudes of adoption. Glenn Close and James Woods play Linda and Michael Spector, a middle-aged couple who have never been able to have children. They meet with a younger, economically strapped couple to discuss adopting from them, but further complications ensue.

    I will admit that this isn't the ultimate masterpiece, but it's the sort of movie that people should see before they adopt, just to understand the issues. Equally as good as Close and Woods are Mary Stuart Masterson and Kevin Dillon, as the young couple having the baby but having doubts about giving it up. A pretty interesting movie.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Mary Stuart Masterson wore an eight-pound sack of bird seed around her stomach to simulate being pregnant.
    • Goofs
      In the opening scene while driving on the highway, signs from the province of British Columbia are seen.
    • Quotes

      Michael Spector: [after Sam and Lucy borrowed their car] Okay, let's have it. Your most paranoid fantasy.

      Linda Spector: I don't want to talk about it.

      Michael Spector: They disappear with the baby and the car, only stopping long enough to rip off a few convenience stores on the way home with a sawed-off shotgun. Am I getting close?

      Linda Spector: I don't appreciate this, Michael.

      Michael Spector: And we end up on Geraldo Rivera as the most gullible couple in America.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Fat Man and Little Boy/I, Madman/Gross Anatomy/Story of Women/When the Whales Came (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Into the Mystic
      Written and Performed by Van Morrison

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.

      by arrangement with Warner Special Products

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 27, 1989 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Second Hand Familie
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Sanford/Pillsbury Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,932,613
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,675,344
      • Oct 29, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,932,613
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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