Getting Even with Dad (1994)

Directed by Howard Deutch. Starring Ted Danson, Macaulay Culkin, Saul Rubinek, Gailard Sartain, Glenne Headly, Sam McMurray, Hector Elizondo, Kathleen Wilhoite, Sydney Walker. [PG]

Young Culkin is dumped into the hands of his estranged ex-con father (Danson), who’d spent most of his son’s childhood behind bars. Danson, of course, wants nothing to do with the kid, but the kid doesn’t share a similar sentiment, and blackmails the dad into spending quality time with him by confiscating the rare coins the dad and his bumbling cronies have stolen. A trivial comedy with the “laughs” centered on dopey Rubinek and Sartain and their slapstick shenanigans; turns mushy in the second half, and even adds an unconvincing romance between Danson and the detective on his trail (Headly). Danson does what he can (which isn’t much) and Culkin gives an anemic juvenile performance. The two do at least have one family trait in common: awful hair. Aimed at undemanding and not very bright kids.

28/100