The warning signs were all there; a family comedy released at Christmas, starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler from the director of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. Parental Guidance at least managed to give the two aging stars leading roles, though it relies on their worst habits as comedians. They play grandparents recruited to look after their misbehaving grandkids, leading to many scenes of Crystal being whacked in the balls and hit in the head. The movie is like a checklist for all the laziest family comedy clichés; bratty kids, embarrassing accidents and a heart warming lesson for everyone to learn at the end. Crystal and Midler appear to be having fun working together, but theyre characters are both massively annoying. Hes a sullen, sarcastic dick and shes pushy and loud; the default settings that made audiences turn on them in the first place. Can you think of any other great Billy Crystal performances that didnt make the cut? Do you disagree with anything on the list? Let us know in the comments section.
