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IMDbPro

Too Young to Be a Dad

  • TV Movie
  • 20022002
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
846
YOUR RATING
Kathy Baker and Paul Dano in Too Young to Be a Dad (2002)
  • Drama
When 15-year-old Matt Freeman gets 15-year-old Francesca pregnant, their parents decide to put the unborn baby up for adoption. Matt agrees to the decision, but later begins to rethink it. T... Read allWhen 15-year-old Matt Freeman gets 15-year-old Francesca pregnant, their parents decide to put the unborn baby up for adoption. Matt agrees to the decision, but later begins to rethink it. This movie shows the father's point of view.When 15-year-old Matt Freeman gets 15-year-old Francesca pregnant, their parents decide to put the unborn baby up for adoption. Matt agrees to the decision, but later begins to rethink it. This movie shows the father's point of view.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
846
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Éva Gárdos
  • Writer
    • Edithe Swensen
  • Stars
    • Kathy Baker
    • Paul Dano
    • Katie Stuart
Top credits
  • Director
    • Éva Gárdos
  • Writer
    • Edithe Swensen
  • Stars
    • Kathy Baker
    • Paul Dano
    • Katie Stuart
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos7

    Too Young to Be a Dad (2002)
    Jane Krakowski, Paul Dano, Katie Stuart, and Danielle Panabaker in Too Young to Be a Dad (2002)
    Paul Dano in Too Young to Be a Dad (2002)
    Too Young to Be a Dad (2002)
    Kathy Baker and Paul Dano in Too Young to Be a Dad (2002)
    Too Young to Be a Dad (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kathy Baker
    Kathy Baker
    • Susan Freemanas Susan Freeman
    Paul Dano
    Paul Dano
    • Matt Freemanas Matt Freeman
    • (as Paul Franklin Dano)
    Katie Stuart
    Katie Stuart
    • Francesca Howellas Francesca Howell
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Dan Freemanas Dan Freeman
    Terra Vnesa
    Terra Vnesa
    • Alex Freemanas Alex Freeman
    Nigel Bennett
    Nigel Bennett
    • Dr. Howellas Dr. Howell
    Sherry Miller
    Sherry Miller
    • Juliana Howellas Juliana Howell
    Shadia Simmons
    Shadia Simmons
    • Blairas Blair
    Martha Irving
    Martha Irving
    • Hanna Bergas Hanna Berg
    Kim Roberts
    Kim Roberts
    • Mrs. Bennettas Mrs. Bennett
    Andrew Church
    Andrew Church
    • Zach Marshallas Zach Marshall
    Jeremy Akerman
    Jeremy Akerman
    • Attorneyas Attorney
    Mauralea Austin
    • Lorrie Klineas Lorrie Kline
    Juanita Peters
    • Grace Chapmanas Grace Chapman
    David Christoffel
    • High School Math Teacheras High School Math Teacher
    Elizabeth Murphy
    • Dan's secretaryas Dan's secretary
    Rhonda McLean
    Rhonda McLean
    • First Teacheras First Teacher
    Gary Levert
    • PTA Dadas PTA Dad
    • Director
      • Éva Gárdos
    • Writer
      • Edithe Swensen
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Bruce Davison and Katie Stuart both are in this movie and both were also in the film X2: X-Men United (2003), although in both films they have no scenes together.
    • Goofs
      When Francesca is getting sick in her bathroom, and her dad realizes she's pregnant, you can clearly see the padding under her shirt.
    • Quotes

      Dan Freeman: Are you sure son? It's for life.

      Matt Freeman: It's already for life, dad.

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The point of this film seems to have been lost
    In reading the comments, I notice there is quite a bit written about "Too Young to be a Dad" that focus on the fact that at 15, the young boy in the film didn't feel ready to continue having sex with the more experienced young woman, who becomes pregnant.

    I'm not sure why that detail was included in the script, except it was probably meant to convey that he was a little more fine-tuned than other kids his age, and therefore would make the decisions he made later on in the film.

    But "Too Young to be a Dad" isn't about whether or not this kid wanted to have sex and whether or not this makes him gay or strange. It's about the reactions of two families, notably the boy's, to his getting a girl pregnant and its ramifications. Two of the finest actors around, Kathy Baker and Bruce Davison, play the boy's parents, because the story is about them as well.

    In this film, the boy takes full responsibility for his part in the pregnancy, and the focus is on him rather than the girl, which is a different take, and also why this, as well as "Unwed Father" was shown on Father's Day. His actions are commendable, and the point is well made, though there are some script elements that are bothersome. First of all, what kind of a place did these people live in? The committee members the mom deals with, the kids on the bus, etc., all act as if the girl was impregnated by an alien, and they'd never heard of such a thing. Hello, teen pregnancy is QUITE common. Secondly, unlike the harsh realities of "Unwed Father," this boy is able to make his decision knowing he has tons of support from his parents and his sister - which makes it a lot easier.

    Nevertheless, the movie is well-acted with some lovely scenes, particularly the one between Davison and Baker when she brings him his coffee after he loses his temper.

    Pregnancy has consequences, something often lost in the fantasy of wanting a baby. The young girl in this film had no such fantasy, but many young girls do. It's good to have a few movies around that focus on adoption, parent reactions, and decisions that need to be made.
    helpful•11
    4
    • blanche-2
    • Jun 18, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 10, 2002 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Family's Decision
    • Filming locations
      • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Lifetime Television
      • Jaffe/Braunstein Films
      • Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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