I might not be able to offer a thorough comparison for this movie and the original because of my lack of actually seeing the original, but I'm going to be merciful to the makers of this film while at the same time pointing out the various details which weren't as enjoyable or original for a family film. Yours, Mine and Ours may not be the most memorable film in its genre, but I had a smidgen of sympathy for the plot only because of how it relates to my life and because I looked past all the slapstick and paint splattering silliness which was aimed solely at the target demographic, and looked at the story from a mature perspective which gives more insight into the ways of a modern family and how it can be managed.
Frank Beardsley (Dennis Quaid) is a General for the National Coast Guard; a family man at heart with a stern attitude towards raising his kids and keeping everything scrupulously clean and orderly. The catch is that he has eight kids ranging from the tender age of four to the near adult age of seventeen. Frank has been a widow for quite some time after the death of his wife, moving at least a dozen times with his kids from place to place without ever having a place to really call home. After taking a new position teaching at the Coast Guard Academy in the town of New London, Connecticut where he was raised, Frank decides to go to his high school reunion where he meets Helen North (Rene Russo), who was his high school sweetheart and former fiancée. Helen is actually and up and coming purse designer, who has a chance to expand her line of creations to a larger commercial platform, but when it comes to their compatibility, she and Frank are the exact opposites of one another. Laid back and unrestrained when it come to how she runs her life and her family, Helen resorts to spontaneity and an eccentric way of living which works for her and her kids, letting them express themselves creatively and have the chance to explore their passions in life without anything to hold them back. Much to Frank's relief, Helen reveals that she has ten kids, with most of them being adopted, and so they reignite their romance that evening and marry on a whim, much to the shock and dismay of their kids. Flabbergasted and anxious about their future, the kids have no choice but to start a new life with their new parents and siblings at a spacious house located by the sea, which also houses a tower serving as a lighthouse. The house is in need of serious repair and renovation which gives the newly formed family a chance to bond and get to know one another, exchanging their talents and abilities for the benefit of helping others. Frank meanwhile is unhappy with the behavior which Helen deems acceptable for younger children and makes up a schedule for everyone now that there are eighteen kids in the house. With everything from the bathroom time to the time allotted for breakfast being compromised, the North kids have decided to put a stop to this nonsense and put everything back to normal. They devise a plan with the Beardsley kids to do everything possible to make their parents break-up, but soon find themselves enjoying each others company and wondering whether this is what they really want. But have their antics put their parents at odds with each other for good or will their faith and love for each other prevail in the end?
Frivolous and quirky in spirit, the film has good intentions and a valuable lesson for all, if that is the way you choose to look at it. I know the premise may be a bit of a cliché and mundane to say the least with the sudden marriage of the couple and the seemingly fairy tale ending, but you have to take into consideration the age group this film is aimed at and the kind of message you wish to send to younger children. I had a little bit of a problem with the focus of the film shifting endlessly between the parents and their kids; at first the focus seems to be put on the newlyweds and their ambitions and struggles with bringing their disparate families closer together, but their relationship struggles to come through with the constant diversion of the kids' silly antics which result in Dennis Quaid always getting something on his face. If dealing with such a mature matter, the writers should have kept the screenplay as far away from absurdity as possible, with the exception of a little kid friendly mischief, otherwise it all becomes a big joke all too fast without giving the gist of the story a chance to come through and draw you in.
The film loses its flavor and ability to take itself seriously because of the paint-splattering, food-throwing madness which could have brought the house down (literally) eventually if it was taken any further. I also thought that the script was rather weak, especially when it came to the interaction between the older kids. I mean the things that came out of their mouths was at times inappropriate and at others completely predictable, which never gave the film any substance or a real understanding of each character because we weren't able to explore their personalities and values in depth. Ludicrous and mischievous as a whole, the only thing that kept the movie safe and meaningful was the main message and how it pertains to a modern family with all its nuances and deviations.
I admit that I did enjoy and respect this film more than others of this type because of its relevancy not only in my life, but also the many other families of this generation. Idiosyncrasy when it comes to family is a very common theme in the States today. Divorces happen, kids are stranded in the middle of them and most of the time their parents find new life partners to share their lives with but forget how difficult it is to adjust and adapt to a normal life once yours has been ravaged to such an extent. New house, new school, new rules, new relationships; it's never an easy balance to maintain and I admire that this film made it the focal point no matter how outlandish or unconventional this particular family is. As parents, I think we strive and make it a priority to keep our children's lives as smooth and happy as possible, and it's not exactly a piece of cake when you have step kids who are used to a different type of lifestyle and upbringing. As a parent, step or not, you still try to mold your kids into well-rounded individuals by imposing your own rules and giving advice which in turn may not be as enticing or valuable to your new kids because they are so unfamiliar and dubious as to your intentions, when in reality they are benign. But the most difficult thing to establish with people who you are newly acquainted with is trust. That is the thing which brings us closer together. If we can establish a sense of trust with our new family, we can move on to building a bond which reciprocates our love for each other and solidifies our union as a whole. If only it were that easy, but don't get frustrated with yourself and don't give up, because the sooner you find a solution to communicating with those who you are now obligated to share your life with, the sooner your memories will become happier and your stress a thing of the past.
Because of its pertinence to my life story and the challenges of other families around the country, the essence of this film is incredibly uplifting and inspiring in my eyes. Once you take a look at the family in this film and how hectic their household is, you'll find that bringing your family together will come much easier than you think. It's all a matter of determination and our ability to push differences aside, finding a strength greater than ourselves which pushes us to make it work in order to secure our chance for bliss in the near future.
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