Parenthood (The Movie) Part 2

Mandy and Matthew complete their deep dive into Ron Howard’s Parenthood, focusing on the film’s most quietly devastating subplot: Frank Buckman’s relationship with his troubled youngest son, Larry. This conversation explores how the movie tackles parental favoritism, the limits of unconditional support, and the painful moment when a parent realizes they can’t fix their adult child—but might get another chance with an unexpected grandchild.

The discussion examines how Larry’s gambling addiction mirrors more familiar addiction narratives, why Frank’s silent recognition that “it’s never going to change” hits so hard, and how Jason Robards delivers a masterclass in understated acting. Mandy and Matthew also reflect on the film’s refusal to wrap everything up neatly, the fleeting nature of those perfect family moments, and what it means to accept that our children will blame us for things—sometimes legitimately, sometimes as a necessary step toward their own growth.

Questions We Discussed:

• How does Frank’s enabling relationship with Larry mirror the dynamics of families dealing with addiction?
• What does the quiet scene where Frank tells Cool “your father’s not coming back” reveal about accepting parental failure?
• Why does the film refuse to give us a neat resolution, and what does that say about real parenting?
• How does the “roller coaster” metaphor apply to both the euphoric ending and the inevitable downs to come?
• What did Frank actually mean when he told his sons to “make your mark,” and how did each son interpret it differently?
• How does early parenthood create the illusion of total control, and when does that illusion start to crack?