Billy Crystal talks parenting
Showtimes
   
Article

Billy Crystal talks parenting


Billy Crystal's larger-than-life role as a grandfather in "Parental Guidance".

3 Jan – For Billy Crystal, playing an out-of-tune grandfather in "Parental Guidance" is not so much a challenge as he already has experience with the role in real life. The idea for the movie came to him while babysitting for his daughter.

"When I wrote the first story for this movie, my wife Janice and I babysat for our daughter Jenny. We had six days with their girls, all alone. It was an eye-opener. When you're not used to that energy, it's tough. On the 7th day I rested and came in to the office and said, 'Here's the idea for the movie.'"

Crystal added that the experience was very different from his childhood where the child would be ordered by parents to just 'go out and play until dinner time'. For his grandchildren, there was a set of rules that were programmed into their days and weeks that require effort to keep up with.

"Parental Guidance" marks Billy Crystal's return to film ten years after "Analyse That" in 2002. He plays an old-school grandfather who clashes with his 21st century grandchildren. The movie also stars Bette Midler as his wife and Marisa Tomei as his daughter. Crystal also acts as producer for the movie.

Cinema Online recently had a screening of the family comedy at MBO Subang Parade. Here's what some of our contest winners have to say about the movie:


Ahmad Adlyn B. Othman, 38, thought the movie was okay: "I would give it a 6/10. I enjoy the fact that the film reflects on life where the younger set of parents also had something to learn from the older pair of parents."

Irene Heng Ai Teck, 45, enjoyed "Parental Guidance" tremendously and has already recommended it to her colleagues: "The couple next to me in the cinema was really laughing so hard throughout. I nearly forgo the movie because of the bad reviews but I'm glad I was there to enjoy it."

Showtimes