No Dessert, Dad, till You Mow the Lawn
Directed byHoward McCain[1]
Written byJennifer Moran
Martha Moran[1]
StarringRobert Hays
Joanna Kerns[1]
Release date
1994[1]
Running time
89 minutes[1]
LanguageEnglish

No Dessert Dad, till You Mow the Lawn is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Howard McCain and starring Robert Hays and Joanna Kerns.[2][3][4]

Synopsis

Two parents (Hays and Kerns) buy self-hypnosis tapes in order to quit smoking. The kids find the tapes and add subliminal suggestions that turn them into cool parents.

Cast

Reception

In a negative review, Paul Cullum wrote, "No Dessert Dad adheres strictly to the point of view built into the title that of kids goofing on short-sighted oblivious parents but the meandering narrative creates the feeling of something made up as it goes along, much as a four-year-old might tell a story. This, coupled with largely infantile humor, leaves the queasy but vivid impression that this is a film written not only for kids, but quite possibly by kids. None of this will is likely dissuade the post-linear, computer-driven, cybergarten audience, but it promises to be slow going for anyone over the age of 10."[5]

Radio Times had a negative review of the film, stating, "This rare foray by producer Roger Corman into PG territory is a surprisingly reprehensible family film. ... Though the premise may not bother children, they might share their parents' discomfort, not just at the film's cold tone, but also its attempts to find humour in cat faeces and cracks about incest.[6] Bruce Elder of The Sydney Morning Herald praised the film, calling it "cute fantasy" and "mildly amusing".[7] Mick Martin and Marsha Porter gave the film three stars, saying about the film's parents, "Watching their transformation from strung-out chain-smokers to vibrant, healthy parents is both funny and poignant."[8] Stan James of The Advertiser wrote that the film was "a certain winner in a strange title competition" and "This harmless fare has its moments, some of them funny."[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Flowers, John; Frizler, Paul (2004). Psychotherapists on Film, 1899-1999: A Worldwide Guide to Over 5000 Films. Vol. 2. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 432. ISBN 0-7864-1908-3. Retrieved 2023-07-03 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "Papa, Előbb Dolgozz Meg A Sütiért!" [Papa, Work for the Cookie First!]. Video Magazin [hu] (in Hungarian). June 1996. p. 32. ISSN 0237-5141. Retrieved 2023-07-03 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Connors, Martin; Craddock, Jim, eds. (1998) [1991]. Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 610. ISBN 1-57859-024-8. Retrieved 2023-07-03 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ "TV Plus". Sunday Mail. 2002-01-27. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  5. ^ Cullum, Paul (1994). "No Dessert Dad, 'Til You Mow the Lawn". In Levich, Jacob (ed.). The Motion Picture Guide: 1995 Annual (The Films of 1994). New York: CineBooks. p. 257. ISBN 0-933997-00-0. Retrieved 2023-07-03 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ "No Dessert Dad, Till You Mow the Lawn". Radio Times. 2000. Retrieved 2023-07-03 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ Elder, Bruce (2002-01-28). "Movies - Thursday January 31". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  8. ^ Martin, Mick; Porter, Marsha (2002). Video & DVD Guide 2003. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 789. ISBN 0-345-44991-6. Retrieved 2023-07-03 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ James, Stan (2002-01-31). "TV Movies". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.

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