Parenthood

SmokeScreeners Rating:  

Year of Release: 1989

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Director: Ron Howard

Distributor: Universal Pictures

This film was reviewed by Dr. Barry Hummel of QuitDoc Foundation on July 24, 2016.

Additional Comments:  "There was not a lot of smoking in Parenthood.  In fact, there were only four scenes of smoking... but it was the quality of the smoking that made this such a problematic film.  Co-star Dennis Dugan had the least controversial smoking scene by simply lighting up in a workplace, something not out of the ordinary in 1989 when this film was released.  Co-star Clint Howard played a belligerent parent who smoked near the young ballplayers at a little league game.  Joaquin Phoenix played a teenager seen smoking alongside of a drag racer. However, family patriarch Jason Robards set a new standard by pulling down a No Smoking sign at the maternity ward of a hospital and lighting up a cigar around several of his grandchildren.  Each of these represents a high-profile smoking scene that created a pro-tobacco message."