Getting Even with Dad (1994)

A thief's son cons his father into spending more time with him.

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writers:

Tom S. Parker, Jim Jennewein

Stars:

Macaulay Culkin, Ted Danson, Glenne Headly

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Macaulay Culkin	...	Timmy
Ted Danson	...	Ray
Glenne Headly	...	Theresa
Saul Rubinek	...	Bobby
Gailard Sartain	...	Carl
Sam McMurray	...	Alex
Hector Elizondo	...	Lt. Romayko
Sydney Walker	...	Mr. Wankmueller
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Kitty
Dann Florek	...	Wayne
Ron Canada	...	Zinn
Ralph Peduto	...	Chapman
Bert Kinyon	...	Guard
Melvin Thompson	...	Guard
Danny James Hunter	...	Armored Car Driver (as Danny Hunter)

Storyline

Ray, an ex-con and widower, is planning a coin heist with two accomplices to help him to buy his own bakery. However, he doesn't expect his son Timmy, who was living with Ray's sister, to show up at the house right in the middle of planning. Timmy is ignored and Ray and his buddies pull off the heist. Timmy gets his father's attention by stealing the coins and hiding them. To get them back, his father must take him to a number of different places and treat him like he enjoys his presence. They grow fond of each other but Timmy won't stay with his dad unless he gives up the coins.

---

Plot Keywords:

convict | ex convict | coin | bakery | blond boy | 

---

Taglines:

Timmy's not getting mad he's... Getting Even With Dad.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Family

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Acertando as Contas com Papai

Filming Locations:

Candlestick Park - 602 Jamestown Avenue, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,579,480, 19 June 1994, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$18,438,164

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$24,738,164

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film marks the second time that a cast member from the situation comedy Cheers (1982) played Macaulay Culkin's father. The first was George Wendt in the music video "Michael Jackson: Black or White (1991)."

---

Goofs

The list of coins shown in the printout during the opening credits are relatively common coins and as described with major flaws, would be a collection worth only a few thousand dollars-a far cry from the $1.5 million used in the story line. The $20 gold piece shown in closeup during the credits is far from an in-circulated example, so it is a coin worth little more than the price of an ounce of gold. Also, if they removed the coins from their new PCGS holders and sold them "raw", whatever their value, they would be worth substantially less than as "certified" in their holders.

---

Quotes

Boy: Daddy! He's watching me pee!

---

Connections

References The Twilight Zone (1959)

---

Soundtracks

Do You Love Me?
Written by Berry Gordy
Performed by The Contours
Courtesy of
Motown Record Company L.P.

User Reviews

What a Disaster!

Getting Even with Dad

Awful story about a smart-a$$ed kid (Macaulay Culkin) who goes to live with his crook of a father (Ted Danson) and ends up stealing his father's (and accomplices') stash of money they've stolen from a bank. He promises to give it back if his dad hangs out with him and treats him like most sons.

There's a lot of feuding between father and son in this dismal and unfortunate tale that tries to prove kids are smarter than their parents and can control them with a bit of blackmail. If this movie had been released thirty years ago...I can only imagine what parents would have done to the copies.

Besides, apart from the stupid message of the film, it's just a bad movie. Macaulay Culkin has finally outgrown his childhood and for once the critics started to notice he couldn't act (like he ever could! He got lucky with "Home Alone"--it was good because of Pesci and the rest of the cast, not him). Danson is equally annoying in the role of his father, who seems to have been born without a personality. Yes, Danson is very watered down in this movie. To be honest, I don't blame him--this is the type of stuff that belongs on made-for-TV movies. You know your career has hit rock-bottom when you're in something like this.

And just think, this was made somewhere around ten years ago.

What a disaster.

* / *****