Parenthood: Worth Rewatching

Do you remember the Ron Howard movie "Parenthood"?

The movie came out in 1989 and starred Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Weist, Rick Moranis, and many more (including a young Keanu Reeves and very young Joaquin Phoenix). I know that I watched this movie when it came out, but at that age probably most identified with the scene where Gil Buckman's (Steve Martin's) son didn't catch the ball at little league or wished that "Cowboy Gil" would come to my birthday party. In the 20 years this movie has been out, I've probably watched it a handful of times. At different times getting more and more out of it. I re-watched it last night using our Roku box, and really, really enjoyed it. The part that I found most poignant on this re-watch was the allegorical reminiscing of the great-grandmother about the roller coaster and merry-go-round:

"You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it."

I can't wait to watch it again after my husband and I have children, I am sure there will be another layer of the movie that will make me fall in love with the film all over again.