Walden Media Fans » Parental Guidance

Andy Fickman is one of Hollywood’s workhorse directors who rarely makes headlines. But the family-film specialist (Race to Witch Mountain, You Again) earned Billy Crystal’s stamp of approval to oversee the Dec. 25 release Parental Guidance, which explores what happens when tradition-bound grandparents — played by Crystal and Bette Midler — must adapt to the demands of their 21st-century grandkids while acting as babysitters.

“I knew the story was near and dear to him,” Fickman says of Crystal, who based the concept on his own life. “I am a parent, and one of the things that really appealed to me was how universal the story was and how, when generations get together for holidays, there is always comedy.”

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Fox moved the Crystal/Midler comedy Parental Guidance from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day 2012.

In Parental Guidance, Crystal and Midler play “old school grandparents who have a hard time finding a middle ground with their three modernized grandchildren.”  Marisa Tomei plays their daughter Alice, who despite different parenting styles, looks to the common ground of raising kids to mend her rocky relationship with her parents.  Tom Everett Scott plays Alice’s Husband.  Andy Fickman directed the comedy.

Two of the films from Walden Media that are coming out next year have just gotten release dates.

Formerly titled Us & Them, Parental Guidance stars Billy Crystal and Bette Midler as grandparents who struggle to cope with their grandkids’ modern ways when they’re left to care for them. The duo forge a new bond with their grandkids and set out to repair a long-standing rift with their daughter, Alice, to be played by Marisa Tomei.  It will be released on November 21, 2012.

Surfer Jay Moriarity sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks. Of Men and Mavericks will detail how Moriarty’s persistence, discipline and potential transform Frosty from a reluctant mentor into a father figure. As their bond strengthens, Moriarty learns to push his limits.  It will be released on October 26, 2012.

Tom Everett Scott is set to play Marisa Tomei’s husband in 20th Century Fox and Walden Media’s Us & Them, a comedic tale about old-school versus new-school parenting.

“Us and Them” stars Billy Crystal and Bette Midler as grandparents who struggle to cope with their grandkids’ modern ways when they’re left to care for them. The duo forge a new bond with their grandkids and set out to repair a long-standing rift with their daughter, Alice, to be played by Marisa Tomei.

Joshua Rush has joined the cast of Us & Them, as the latest addition to the family.

“Us and Them” stars Billy Crystal and Bette Midler as grandparents who struggle to cope with their grandkids’ modern ways when they’re left to care for them. The duo forge a new bond with their grandkids and set out to repair a long-standing rift with their daughter, Alice, to be played by Marisa Tomei.

The Oscar winner just signed on to play Billy Crystal and Bette Midler’s daughter in Andy Fickman’s family comedy “Us and Them.”

Is it strange that I find it odd that she’s playing the daughter of Billy Crystal?  Either way, this is great for Walden Media, as lately their film casts have been getting more and more fine actors.

“Us and Them” stars Crystal and Midler as grandparents who struggle to cope with their grandkids’ modern ways when they’re left to care for them. The duo forge a new bond with their grandkids and set out to repair a long-standing rift with their daughter, Alice, to be played by Tomei.

Bridge to Terabithia star Bailee Madison and Bette Midler are set to join Billy Crystal in the family comedy Us & Them Parental Guidance, which will be a co-production between 20th Century Fox and Walden Media.

Andy Fickman (You Again) is directing from a script by Crystal’s City Slickers scribes Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse wrote the original draft, while Crystal and Samantha Sprecher came up with the story.

Crystal stars as Artie Decker, a Fresno AAA baseball broadcaster who, along with his wife Diane (Midler), is forced to move in and look after his three grandchildren, one of whom will be played by Madison.

The film will explore ‘old school’ vs. ‘new school’ parenting as the grandparents struggle to cope with the kids’ modern ways.

-via Variety