Parenthood

Visible crew/equipment: When Karen walks into the boys' bedroom telling Gil that Taylor isn't feeling well, as Justin stands there naked, the reflection of the boom mic dips into view in the center window, at the top right corner. (00:06:45)

Super Grover

Visible crew/equipment: In their bedroom, when Gil stands in the bathroom doorway and Karen sits on the bed, just as she comments about being asked if Kevin has had psychiatric evaluation, crew movement is reflected in the barometer glass on the wall. (00:08:40)

Super Grover

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.

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.

More mistakes in Parenthood

Marilyn Buckman: Cool is adorable. Adorable! Why didn't you write us when you had a son?
Larry Buckman: I didn't know myself until a couple of months ago. You see, a few years ago, I was living in Vegas with this girl. Showgirl. She was in that show 'Elvis On Ice'. Anyhow, we drifted apart, as people do in these complicated times, and then a couple of months ago, she shows up with Cool and tells me "You watch him. I shot someone. I have to leave the country " That's a parent?

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

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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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