(L to R) Edie Falco, and Brian Cox in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
‘The Parenting’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Premiering on Max on March 13th, ‘The Parenting’ is the latest blend of horror and comedy to arrive this year –– and is one of the most successful so far.
Humorously blending the sort of possession story offered up by ‘The Exorcist’ allied with the rom-com stylings of ‘Meet the Parents,’ Craig Johnson’s movie works on both fronts, and a committed cast throw themselves into the roles.
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Will ‘The Parenting’ scare up solid laughs?
Lisa Kudrow in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
Comedy and horror tend to be fairly natural bedfellows, but getting the balance right between the two can be tricky, as one can cancel out the other. ‘The Parenting’ certainly leans heavier on the comedy aspect and doesn’t feature too much that is truly terrifying, but it does a good job of weaving the genres into a cohesive whole.
Many of the jokes are uproarious and come out of character, which means this works on several levels, including some gross-out moments and authentic development for the story.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Nik Dodani, and Brandon Flynn in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
The movie’s script comes from Kent Sublette, who has long worked on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and has served on the writing teams of various award shows. But while there have been complaints in recent years about a dip in comedy levels at the venerable series, ‘The Parenting’ shows no signs of such lag.
Laughs come thick and fast with this film, rooted in believable characters, while the horror aspect is also entertaining and well crafted.
Chances are you’ll guess early on what is really happening here, but that doesn’t detract from how much fun you’ll have watching the movie itself.
Edie Falco in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
As director, Craig Johnson has mostly worked in the indie sphere on movies including ‘The Skeleton Twins,’ ‘True Adolescents’ and ‘Alex Strangelove.’ He’s also been behind the camera for shows such as ‘Minx,’ Gossip Girl’ and ‘School Spirits.’
Here, he brings character-focused skills to bear on the film, encouraging the cast to stretch themselves and bring their A-game to the various roles.
While the horror side of things is, as mentioned, less of the focus, it’s still brought to the screen in interesting fashion. The scares are well-shot and the demonic side of the story has just the right level of freakish energy.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Lisa Kudrow and Dean Norris in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
If the script and direction are both winners, the charming, funny cast is equally a part of the movie’s ultimate success.
As central characters Rohan and Josh, actors Nik Dodani and Brandon Flynn share a warm chemistry as the couple who are nervously preparing to have their parents meet (while Rohan is also planning to propose to Josh, which adds an extra layer of anxiety). Their back-and-forth feels authentic, as do their heightened responses to each other’s family units.
And what family units! Rohan’s adoptive parents are the withdrawn Frank (Brian Cox) and the smart, somewhat picky Sharon (Edie Falco), who aren’t best amused by the situation they find themselves in. And that’s before the demonic angle kicks in.
Brian Cox in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
Falco does buttoned-down well here, playing off of everyone else and letting the comedy flow naturally. As the layers of Sharon peel, we find out what much more about her and how much she cares for her son.
As for Cox, he’s fantastic here, his buttoned-down character the first to be possessed by the demon lurking within the renovated rental house and turning him into something quite different.
Lisa Kudrow, meanwhile, leans into the kookiness of Liddy, Josh’s mother, but this is no Phoebe clone; instead she’s a good-natured person looking to have fun who becomes more and more concerned as the film goes on.
She’s well matched by Dean Norris, who is Josh’s big-hearted dad Cliff, who just wants everyone to get along, but is also prepared when the worst happens.
Parker Posey in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
Then there’s Vivian Bang’s Sara, the boys’ OTT best pal, who takes a panicked text from Rohan as reason to show up at the rental house and inject her particular brand of party girl attitude. But even she is more than meets the eye.
Finally, there’s Parker Posey as local eccentric Brenda, who manages the rental property and might just have more to do with the possession problem than anyone might first suspect. Posey is solid in the role, bringing a particularly offbeat energy.
And the cast as a whole are absolutely game for a laugh –– how many movies have you seen where a naked Brian Cox vomits all over another character? Or seen Edie Falco surprised on the toilet by people walking in on her?
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Brian Cox, Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, Edie Falco, Dean Norris, Lisa Kudrow in ‘The Parenting’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
‘The Parenting’ is a truly entertaining mix of laughs and chills that, while you might be surprised it isn’t coming out around Halloween, should work for any movie night that needs a blend of genres.
A solid script, fine style and great casting make this one stand out. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s a really fun one.
“Meeting the parents… it’s a necessary evil.”
Young couple Rohan and Josh plan a perfect weekend getaway in the country to introduce their parents. As tensions begin to flare between the more traditional Sharon… Read the Plot
What’s the plot of ‘The Parenting’?
A young gay couple, Rohan and Josh (Nik Dodani and Brandon Flynn), host a weekend getaway with their respective parents in a country house rental. Things take a turn when the three couples discover the presence of a 400-year-old evil entity.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Parenting’?
- Nik Dodani as Rohan
- Brandon Flynn as Josh
- Parker Posey as Elizabeth
- Vivian Bang as Lillian
- Lisa Kudrow as Lisa
- Dean Norris as John
- Brian Cox as Gerald
- Edie Falco as Dorothy
‘The Parenting’ premieres March 13th on Max. Photo: Courtesy of Max.
List of Movies and TV Shows Directed by Craig Johnson:
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