Mr. Mom: 5 Ways It Aged Poorly (& 5 Ways It’s Still A Classic)

The 1983 comedy classic Mr. Mom features Michael Keaton and Teri Garr as Jack and Caroline Butler. The plot revolves around the concept of a role switch between the two, with Jack looking after the household and Caroline finding work. It’s a simple yet entertaining premise and the film was enjoyed by many.

Many films from prior decades are pioneers of their genres and examples of great films, but just like most films and television shows from the 80s, some things aren’t as funny, acceptable, or unique as they once were.

Aged Poorly: Shock Over Jack Looking After His Own Children

Jack is a capable human being who has three young children. At the start of the film, it is shown that he hardly has time for his family due to work demands. He is shown as the provider of the family, while Caroline looks after the household. When Jack loses his job and Caroline finds work before him, the film makes the scenario humourous.

Jack is shown to be completely incompetent at everyday tasks, such as laundry and cooking, and incapable of finding hobbies except watching a soap opera. The film is even called Mr. Mom, removing the father aspect. This is more than a little dated as nowadays, it is perfectly normal for men to be in the “stay-at-home” role, while the mother works, and to say that men are automatically bad at regular household chores is also inaccurate.

Classic: The Cast

Mr. Mom featured actors who were either already well known or were soon to become household names. In particular, it starred Michael Keaton when he was a rising star. His comedy and chemistry shone through on-screen, making it hard for viewers to imagine anyone else in the role.

It also starred Teri Garr, who was known for her roles in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977) and Tootsie (1982). Martin Mull played the role of Ron Richards and Christopher Lloyd was featured as Larry, one of Jack’s coworkers.

Aged Poorly: Caroline Being Pursued By Her Boss

Caroline’s boss, Ron Richards, is immediately taken by her from their very first meeting. Other staff members think his interest in her is the only reason she is doing well at work. Ron belittles Jack and Jack feels the need to prove his masculinity by changing out of his robe and wearing overalls while revving a chainsaw and talking about the renovations he’s doing to the house.

Jack throws his win in a spouse race because Ron’s pride demands he win, otherwise jobs are on the line. When Caroline has to take a work trip, Ron sneaks into her hotel room, hoping to surprise her. When she tells him he should leave, he escalates the situation and she punches him to protect herself. While workplace harassment is still very much a thing, unfortunately, this kind of behavior would never fly today and feels dated when watched now.

Classic: It Had Heart

In the end, Mr. Mom is a cheesy family comedy about everyday struggles. It showed character development in both Jack and Caroline and the close nature of their relationship with their children.

It had moments of innocent humor, simply based on pick-up and drop-off, feeding a baby chili beans, an out-of-control vacuum cleaner, and an intense soap opera. It had a montage of Jack becoming his best self and it wasn’t afraid to show the rougher moments while keeping the family together. And of course, it has a happy ending, making it an enduring story.

Aged Poorly: Jack Being Pursued By Joan

When Caroline’s work takes her away from her family, her friends decide to take Jack under their wing. And then there’s Joan. Joan uses this time to pursue Jack. As Caroline is working and Jack is mostly alone, Joan spends more time with Jack.

He even has a soap opera fantasy where Caroline finds him with Joan and decides to shoot him. When Jack hears a man answer Caroline’s phone, he thinks the worst, and even considers cheating on her with Joan. This just feels weird and unlikely today, not to mention totally inappropriate.

Classic: Addressed The Challenges Of Women In The Workplace

The film wasn’t afraid to shy away from the reality of women in the workplace, a hot topic in movies of the 80s as women were returning to the workplace and proving they could “do it all.”

When Caroline went to work for the Richardson-Frankel advertising company, right off the bat, she was treated as inferior because of her role as a mother, when she proves just as useful as any man. Ron Richardson favored her, called her attractive, and actively tried to pursue her. Other women became wary of Caroline’s success, implying she was involved with her boss. The movie did a good job of illustrating the common issues of women in the workplace, many of which still persist today.

Aged Poorly: Larry’s Intentional Harm

Jack and his fellow workers get fired from their jobs due to a shifty operation in the company. But they didn’t know that at the time. Larry, one of the fired workers, acted violently towards his former boss and even attempted to jump out the window.

After learning they leave with full severance and profit-sharing, Larry says, “Great, there’s only one more thing I want. Disability!” There isn’t much that needs to be said about why this hasn’t aged well, but a remake of the film would surely leave this out.

Classic: Honest Communication

After some time looking after the children and house, Jack starts to lose it. He wears the same shirt for days in a row, doesn’t look after himself, and lets the house become a mess. “My brain is like oatmeal. I yelled at Kenny today for coloring outside the lines. Megan and I are starting to watch the same TV shows and I’m liking them. I’m losing it.”

Caroline tells him that she has been there herself. He asks why she never told him she was unhappy and she says she was never unhappy. “Look. Maybe I was a little confused, maybe I was a little frustrated, but I knew what I was doing was important because it means something to raise decent human beings.” It’s nice to see this couple communicate about the struggles of raising children at home and it was great to see a father get some insight into what many women who stay at home go through every day.

Aged Poorly: Work & Home Extremes

There is no coherence in Mr. Mom. There are only two extreme lifestyles for Jack and Caroline. The comedy comes from their challenges navigating their turned-around lives. Caroline finds work, only for it to consume the rest of her life, put her relationship in jeopardy, and upend her schedule.

Jack becomes a stay-at-home father whose days consist of changing diapers, driving the children to school, lazing around and doing housework. It is only at the end of the film that they negotiate a more balanced lifestyle.

Classic: Gender Role Reversal Pioneer

Before Mr. Mom, gender role reversal wasn’t a normal thing to see on screen. This wasn’t a body swap film premise, like Freaky Friday (1976) and the much-loved family sitcom Full House and the comedy film Three Men And A Baby weren’t released until years later in 1987.

Mr. Mom broke the stereotypes that were created in the past – fathers searching for work and sharing recipes, the challenges of childcare, and the growth in parents and their children’s relationships. It showed that yes, housework gets boring and lonely if there is no support, and yes, work is demanding of any gender and that any gender can do anything. It showed that a family can function no matter who is at home or at work and that the only important thing is a strong and loving family.