Reunion movie: really, really bad. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 10-17-2004, 04:08 PM

Let me just start off by saying that Growing Pains was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. I watched it religiously every week, and although I'd never buy it on DVD, I'll watch the occasional rerun.

That said, curiosity killed the cat. I had to watch the reunion. Now, I didn't have high hopes for it to begin with, but I didn't know it was going to be this bad.

First of all, let me address the house. I'll put aside for a moment the fact that they sold the house and moved to Washington, D.C. in the final episode.

It looks like they really tried to make the house they used look like the original set, but I couldn't suspend disbelief for a second. Alan Thicke's character alluded to a renovation. Must have been one hell of a remodel. Who did they hire? Ty Pennington and the cast of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition?

If they wanted viewers to believe this was the same house from the series, they really should have spent a couple of thousand dollars to build a replica of the set (assuming the original set is long gone). The Brady Bunch accomplished this fifteen years ago. Why couldn't GP succeed at it today?

I mentioned the move to Washington, D.C. above. I'm really not satisfied with the half-assed explanation we were given in the special as to why they were supposedly back where they started. Alan Thicke said something like "Unlike '92, we're going to sell it for real this time." Nice try, writers, but I need more than that.

As for the acting, it was pretty piss-poor. Jeremy Miller and Ashley Johnson seemed like cardboard cutouts, while most of the non-series regulars were horrible (especially the child actress who played Mike's oldest daughter; she needed a muzzle).

And the writing? So, so bad. A few groaners were the allusions to the fact that Growing Pains was a TV series. "...166 episodes...," "...every Tuesday night between 8:30 and 9...," and the Leonardo DiCaprio jab. The '80s references were a real drag, too.

Of course the plot has been done numerous times on various sitcoms.

I also wanted to mention that I almost wanted to vomit when the theme song was re-created at the end. Yuck.

I'm really sorry I'm trashing this. I wanted it to be better, but it wasn't.

spunkygirl · 10-17-2004, 05:05 PM

No offense but I think you're taking this too seriously. Alot of people liked it, I did. It was a movie, I don't dwell on stuff like that.

If you remember, at the end of GP, I think at the beginning of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cooper bought the Seavers house, I am pretty sure they remodeled it then.

The outside of the house was the same.

The inside jokes were great, they also did that in the original series too

THere was alot of stuff they didn't connect with the first movie, like where was Carol's stepson? I liked Chrissy, and the song at the end was great, sorry you didn't like it.

If you didn't have alot of hopes for it going into it, that's probably why you didn't enjoy it

Chain Gang Member · 10-17-2004, 05:41 PM

I liked how they made fun of the show.

Mike:This coat was my prized prosession when I was your age.Once,I caught your Uncle Ben in it

Michelle:So,it's not like Leonardo Decaprio wore it
-------------------------------
(Mike's ring tone on his cell phone rings)
Carol:That is so annoying

barb1686 · 10-17-2004, 07:47 PM

Wow...you're taking this movie way too seriously, but they are your opinions and you're entitled to them.

I personally enjoyed the inside jokes. They're there for the fans...it's not like you're going to get a fanbase of people who didn't watch the show so you can do that kind of thing.

And I really enjoy the song...I think almost everyone here does. But that's your personal opinion. Not everyone has the same taste in music.

I was never a big fan of Ben...more so when he got older...and especially in these movies. But I thought Ashley Johnson portrayed Chrissy very well. She brought the character back to life. That's hard to do when she played that character at such a young age. Except I never would have pictured Chrissy as a person to be in a rock band...she was so smart as a kid and seemed like she was on the path to being another Carol with the ability to pull off pranks and schemes like Mike. lol

newlife · 10-18-2004, 08:17 AM

I have to agree that everyone is taking this movie way way to seriously it was meant to be fun and silly and remind you of the show, and thats what I got out of it. People are so nitpicky it is rediculas, everything from the house thing, to how long Kate and Mike shoulld have really been married, whether they sold any of that garage sale stuff in an episode of the series, why carols last name is differant from the first movie- Die hard fanatics of the show worked themselves into a frenzy waiting for this thing and build up in there minds what they wanted to see to the point where it will never live to that. lighten up it was fun, and watching the cast on those talk shows they had fun making it, and getting together, and I think that came through in the movie, I really thought it was a lot of fun. I do have to say though Jeremy Miller really got a raw deal both on the series and in these reunions,when he just starting to get popular on the show they bring in Leonardo decaprio and ruin of all of that, Then he is barely in the reunion movies and none of the talk shows of anything.

felicitylen · 10-18-2004, 10:05 AM

I saw the movie, and I liked it. I liked how they did make fun of their own show. There was one part where Jason Seever told Mike "You didn't learn anything after 136 episodes." It went something like that. They made references about the show alot through out the movie.

Also, each time Mike's phone would ring, it was the show's theme song.

kalojado · 10-20-2004, 12:18 AM

No one on here can tell me that was supposed to be the same house from the show. I don't care how you re-model it, you aren't going to move the garage from the back of the house to the front. There were so many problems with this movie , it wasn't funny. And please don't tell me I am not a fan, because I am probably one of the biggest GP fans there is. I loved the first movie, it made sense, but this was just ridiculous....

Im not trying to start a fight with anyone on here, I can't just sit here and act like this movie was any good. To mess with what they had by making this movie was a big mistake.

felicitylen · 10-20-2004, 04:26 PM

I knew that something was different. It was the house. Were the Seavers from New York?

I didn't see the first movie, so I don't know how it was. I didn't think it was horrible, and I didn't think it was the best movie; but I still liked it.

Like someone else mentioned, it really looked like they were just having fun when they made the movie.

McFly121 · 11-21-2004, 04:44 AM

And plus Ashley Johnson is smokin' hot now!

growingpains fan · 11-27-2004, 09:52 PM

i was wondering if theres a collection of growing pains episodes on video or dvd? does anyone know? thanks!

McFly121 · 11-29-2004, 02:18 AM

I have a whopping 5 episodes for trade/sale. But two are original broadcast airings (The Pilot and the one were Ben brings home a homeless girl at xmas). I have the Matthew Perry death ep, but it's antenna recorded. Lemme know.

Mcfly911@aol.com

dave insinga · 05-23-2005, 03:11 PM

Ididn't hate the second movie true the storyline didn't click with the first movie or the show for that matter but it was entertaining.the first movie was a better update on the show.

Classicshowsgurl15 · 05-23-2005, 03:32 PM

The one that they played on the Wonderful World of Disney last year I liked. I haven't seen the first one though.

dave insinga · 05-24-2005, 11:15 AM

abc family channel sometimes runs the first movie ill keep you posted the next time its on.this was originally a disney thing also.

StrudelBone · 08-29-2005, 09:03 PM

Does anyone have a copy of this movie and the first one original ABC airings that I could buy from them? Send me a PM.

10-17-2004, 04:08 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Reunion movie: really, really bad. Let me just start off by saying that Growing Pains was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. I watched it religiously every week, and although I'd never buy it on DVD, I'll watch the occasional rerun. That said, curiosity killed the cat. I had to watch the reunion. Now, I didn't have high hopes for it to begin with, but I didn't know it was going to be this bad. First of all, let me address the house. I'll put aside for a moment the fact that they sold the house and moved to Washington, D.C. in the final episode. It looks like they really tried to make the house they used look like the original set, but I couldn't suspend disbelief for a second. Alan Thicke's character alluded to a renovation. Must have been one hell of a remodel. Who did they hire? Ty Pennington and the cast of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? If they wanted viewers to believe this was the same house from the series, they really should have spent a couple of thousand dollars to build a replica of the set (assuming the original set is long gone). The Brady Bunch accomplished this fifteen years ago. Why couldn't GP succeed at it today? I mentioned the move to Washington, D.C. above. I'm really not satisfied with the half-assed explanation we were given in the special as to why they were supposedly back where they started. Alan Thicke said something like "Unlike '92, we're going to sell it for real this time." Nice try, writers, but I need more than that. As for the acting, it was pretty piss-poor. Jeremy Miller and Ashley Johnson seemed like cardboard cutouts, while most of the non-series regulars were horrible (especially the child actress who played Mike's oldest daughter; she needed a muzzle). And the writing? So, so bad. A few groaners were the allusions to the fact that Growing Pains was a TV series. "...166 episodes...," "...every Tuesday night between 8:30 and 9...," and the Leonardo DiCaprio jab. The '80s references were a real drag, too. Of course the plot has been done numerous times on various sitcoms. I also wanted to mention that I almost wanted to vomit when the theme song was re-created at the end. Yuck. I'm really sorry I'm trashing this. I wanted it to be better, but it wasn't.

10-17-2004, 05:41 PM	#3
Chain Gang Member 1st Female Triple Crown Champ Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Watching Three's Company & Wrestling Posts: 8,926	I liked how they made fun of the show. Mike:This coat was my prized prosession when I was your age.Once,I caught your Uncle Ben in it Michelle:So,it's not like Leonardo Decaprio wore it ------------------------------- (Mike's ring tone on his cell phone rings) Carol:That is so annoying
	__________________ Mickie is the best woman to step inside the ring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOTh3hVT0HU

10-17-2004, 07:47 PM	#4
barb1686 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 02, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,120	Wow...you're taking this movie way too seriously, but they are your opinions and you're entitled to them. I personally enjoyed the inside jokes. They're there for the fans...it's not like you're going to get a fanbase of people who didn't watch the show so you can do that kind of thing. And I really enjoy the song...I think almost everyone here does. But that's your personal opinion. Not everyone has the same taste in music. I was never a big fan of Ben...more so when he got older...and especially in these movies. But I thought Ashley Johnson portrayed Chrissy very well. She brought the character back to life. That's hard to do when she played that character at such a young age. Except I never would have pictured Chrissy as a person to be in a rock band...she was so smart as a kid and seemed like she was on the path to being another Carol with the ability to pull off pranks and schemes like Mike. lol
	__________________ SBTB Corner

10-18-2004, 10:05 AM	#6
felicitylen Keep Austin WEIRD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2003 Location: Hook 'em Horns Posts: 1,606	I saw the movie, and I liked it. I liked how they did make fun of their own show. There was one part where Jason Seever told Mike "You didn't learn anything after 136 episodes." It went something like that. They made references about the show alot through out the movie. Also, each time Mike's phone would ring, it was the show's theme song.
	Last edited by felicitylen; 10-20-2004 at 04:23 PM.

10-20-2004, 12:18 AM	#7
kalojado Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 20	No way... No one on here can tell me that was supposed to be the same house from the show. I don't care how you re-model it, you aren't going to move the garage from the back of the house to the front. There were so many problems with this movie , it wasn't funny. And please don't tell me I am not a fan, because I am probably one of the biggest GP fans there is. I loved the first movie, it made sense, but this was just ridiculous.... Im not trying to start a fight with anyone on here, I can't just sit here and act like this movie was any good. To mess with what they had by making this movie was a big mistake.

10-17-2004, 05:05 PM	#2
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	No offense but I think you're taking this too seriously. Alot of people liked it, I did. It was a movie, I don't dwell on stuff like that. If you remember, at the end of GP, I think at the beginning of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cooper bought the Seavers house, I am pretty sure they remodeled it then. The outside of the house was the same. The inside jokes were great, they also did that in the original series too THere was alot of stuff they didn't connect with the first movie, like where was Carol's stepson? I liked Chrissy, and the song at the end was great, sorry you didn't like it. If you didn't have alot of hopes for it going into it, that's probably why you didn't enjoy it

10-18-2004, 08:17 AM	#5
newlife Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 69	I have to agree that everyone is taking this movie way way to seriously it was meant to be fun and silly and remind you of the show, and thats what I got out of it. People are so nitpicky it is rediculas, everything from the house thing, to how long Kate and Mike shoulld have really been married, whether they sold any of that garage sale stuff in an episode of the series, why carols last name is differant from the first movie- Die hard fanatics of the show worked themselves into a frenzy waiting for this thing and build up in there minds what they wanted to see to the point where it will never live to that. lighten up it was fun, and watching the cast on those talk shows they had fun making it, and getting together, and I think that came through in the movie, I really thought it was a lot of fun. I do have to say though Jeremy Miller really got a raw deal both on the series and in these reunions,when he just starting to get popular on the show they bring in Leonardo decaprio and ruin of all of that, Then he is barely in the reunion movies and none of the talk shows of anything.

10-20-2004, 04:26 PM	#8
felicitylen Keep Austin WEIRD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2003 Location: Hook 'em Horns Posts: 1,606	I knew that something was different. It was the house. Were the Seavers from New York? I didn't see the first movie, so I don't know how it was. I didn't think it was horrible, and I didn't think it was the best movie; but I still liked it. Like someone else mentioned, it really looked like they were just having fun when they made the movie.

11-21-2004, 04:44 AM	#9
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	And plus Ashley Johnson is smokin' hot now!
	__________________ "That was Bob's donut!"

11-27-2004, 09:52 PM	#10
growingpains fan Member First Time Poster Join Date: Nov 27, 2004 Location: growing pains Posts: 1	GROWING PAINS DVD??? i was wondering if theres a collection of growing pains episodes on video or dvd? does anyone know? thanks!

11-29-2004, 02:18 AM	#11
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	I have a whopping 5 episodes for trade/sale. But two are original broadcast airings (The Pilot and the one were Ben brings home a homeless girl at xmas). I have the Matthew Perry death ep, but it's antenna recorded. Lemme know. Mcfly911@aol.com

05-23-2005, 03:11 PM	#12
dave insinga Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2005 Posts: 590	first reunion movie better Ididn't hate the second movie true the storyline didn't click with the first movie or the show for that matter but it was entertaining.the first movie was a better update on the show.

05-23-2005, 03:32 PM	#13
Classicshowsgurl15 Happy Days Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,088	The one that they played on the Wonderful World of Disney last year I liked. I haven't seen the first one though.
	__________________ “All our young lives we search for someone to love, someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope, all the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect who might be searching for us.” - The Wonder Years

05-24-2005, 11:15 AM	#14
dave insinga Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2005 Posts: 590	reunion movie one runs on abc family abc family channel sometimes runs the first movie ill keep you posted the next time its on.this was originally a disney thing also.

08-29-2005, 09:03 PM	#15
StrudelBone Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 14, 2001 Posts: 592	Does anyone have a copy of this movie and the first one original ABC airings that I could buy from them? Send me a PM.