Parenthood

Parenthood (1989)

39 mistakes - chronological order

(5 votes)

Continuity mistake: In the classroom, when Susan and Nathan kiss beside the blackboard, the blue loose-leaf binder on the boy's desk is closed, whereas in the previous and following shots it is open. (01:43:30)

Super Grover

Continuity mistake: When Justin disrupts Taylor's play, just as Gil feels the roller coaster ride, there's a shot of the stage and most of the set is already knocked over. When Gil's ride stops more of the set is intact and then topples again and again. (01:54:20)

Super Grover

Factual error: When Julie and Tod pick up the photographs from the photo booth, there is a Publix Market in the lot behind them. There has never been a Publix in Missouri. The film was shot on location in the Orlando/Kissimmee area. (01:54:20)

Super Grover

Revealing mistake: During the first shot of Larry being pushed out of the car, it's blatantly a stunt double who is taller, thinner and has shorter hair than the actor.

Revealing mistake: In the parking lot of what is supposed to be Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, all the cars have Florida license plates. This happened because Ron Howard shot much of the film in Florida, not in St. Louis, Missouri.

Continuity mistake: During the family dinner, the level of the wine in all the characters' glasses changes from one shot to the next.

Continuity mistake: At the start of Kevin's party, the horse seen giving a child a ride has a small white mark on his face, between the eyes. When Cowboy Gil rides the horse he now has a long, broad white mark down his face.

Super Grover

Factual error: In the opening scene at the baseball game, the announcer thanks the crowd for coming to see the St. Louis Cardinals. The fans are sitting in yellow seats, but all of the seats in Busch Stadium in St. Louis are red.

Continuity mistake: When Helen throws the pictures of her daughter and her boyfriend down, the pictures are all over the floor, and by the chair she is sitting in. However, when her daughter comes in the room to pick them up, they are all in a pile closer to the coffee table.

Pam-I-am

Continuity mistake: After Todd wrecks in the drag race, Gary is running to the car and his hat falls off, but when he gets to the car, he has it on his head.

Pam-I-am

Continuity mistake: When Susan (the teacher) begins class she writes the word "bonus" on the board. When her husband comes in and starts singing, the handwriting changes in following shots.

Pam-I-am

Other mistake: When Tod has almost finished speaking to Helen after he's told her about his conversation with Gary, her hands are resting on the cooker ring. She had just been frying chicken so these rings should be scalding hot and she wouldn't have been able to rest her hands on them.

The_Iceman

Continuity mistake: When Tod has spoken to Gary and tells Helen he is "one messed up little dude", she sighs and her shoulders slump but the very next shot has her hands on the counter edges and she's staring straight ahead.

The_Iceman

Continuity mistake: When Taylor is in the play she shakes her hat down, but in the next shot her hat is back on her head.

dell

Visible crew/equipment: During the shot of Gill's crashed minivan, as the camera pulls out to frame Gill and his wife, you can see the moving camera and crew in the reflection of the broken headlight.

Helen: It sounds like a boy Garry's age needs a man around the house.
Tod: Well, it depends on the man. I had a man around. He used to wake me up every morning by flicking lit cigarettes at my head. He'd say, "Hey, asshole, get up and make me breakfast." You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, or drive a car. Hell, you need a license to catch a fish! But they'll let any butt-reaming asshole be a father.

More quotes from Parenthood

Trivia: Director Ron Howard's real-life daughter, Bryce Dallas, is the redhead girl in the audience during the play.

More trivia for Parenthood

Question: Is the timeline in this movie supposed to be somewhat non-linear? For example - in the scene where Karen and Gill go to Kevin's school to talk to the principal and psychologist, it is specifically mentioned that the new school year is 4 months away meaning it is approximately April since kids typically began school in August. Later, when Larry comes to visit and is talking to the dad in the garage, he mentions the Super Bowl (which you reasonably would have assumed they just watched) but that takes place in January. Plus, Larry's mom tells them that Cool (Larry's son) has just finished eating lunch. How? If they just watched the Super Bowl, it would be dinner since the game is always played in the afternoon. And despite being in "St. Louis" (we know they actually filmed in Florida), it never seems to be winter. The end is really the most confusing with the birthing order. We learned earlier in a scene that Karen is pregnant and is due in February. At some point around this time, we find out that Julie is also pregnant. At this point, Julie's mom Helen has just gone on her first date with Mr. Bowen (Garry's biology teacher) but the end, Helen is having a baby, Julie and Tod's baby barely looks a month old and Karen's baby looks to be about 4 months old. Did Helen marry Mr. Bowen immediately and get pregnant right away?

Answer: The movie is being told in a linear timeline. You have just about all the information right! I think the one thing you are letting throw you off is your assessment of the Super Bowl. You are surmising that they had just watched the game that day, but my assessment is that they are talking about the game from months ago (bearing in mind that Larry has not been around for years and has not seen his father since the last Super Bowl). My belief is the movie takes place in May. That would add up with Kevin's next year of school being 4 months away as schools usually start in September, and the math also works out with Karen's February due date. This would also explain your concern about the weather. As for Helen's baby, it is not made clear whether or not she married Mr. Bowman, nor does it really matter for timeline purposes, but they consummated the relationship not long after the first date and she got pregnant.

jshy7979

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