IMDb > Father Hood (1993) > IMDb user reviews

IMDb user reviews for
Father Hood (1993) More at IMDbPro »

Filter: Hide Spoilers:
Index 9 reviews in total 

5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Overlooked Little Gem, 5 April 2002
7/10
Author: Bob-45 from Savannah, GA

"Father Hood" is an overlooked little gem of a "road movie". Fine performances by Halle Berry, Sabina Lloyd and Brian Bonsall, two really fun "over-the-top" ones by Diane Ladd and Michael Ironside,

and a downright outstanding one from Patrick Swayze. The movie is helped by an unconventional storyline, but badly undercut by it's flashback framing which results in a formulamatic, abrupt ending. "Father Hood" would have worked MUCH better without these "bookends". Nevertheless, the movie brings up important issues of "family responsibilities" and the consequences of state intervention. As long as the foster system rewards state institutions for NOT placing children, such abuses will exist.

Pick this one up. It's worth the "ride."

Was the above review useful to you?

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
When your kids find you its time to find yourself!, 25 September 2004
Author: nd-electrical from manchester, England

Patrick Swayze stars as a father who is lost to beer, woman and the bad boy life. One day, out of the blue, his children find him but are ripped away by the system. In typical character, after seeing his children handcuffed to a waist belt into the bus back to the home for disturbed children, Swayze decides enough is enough and hijacks the bus, which leads to a cannon ball run trek across America to New Orleans, where the next heist of money will get Swayze the good life.

On the way there, he starts to fall in love with his kids and helped by Halle Berry, the reporter who has tried to stop the home molesting children and billing for trips out with the kids that never really took place, Swayze has to decide whether he should take the money and run or look out for his new found family's interests.

I really enjoyed this film and recommend watching it, if you missed it back in '93, and the music played during the chases is soulful and funky throughout, which gelled nicely with the plot, especially the last track (wonderful one, if thats its name) which took me right to the end of the credits. I just hope in the next few years we get another version of 'Father Hood' and they stick to the northern soul tracks that blessed this version. Just please please please shut the blonde loud mouth kid up, his character played too well and was as annoying as he was paid to be!!!!!

Was the above review useful to you?

3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Entertaining Tale of an unwilling Father who is a HOOD!, 13 April 2005
7/10
Author: reblit (reblit@alltel.net) from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Father Hood is an entertaining tale of an unwilling Father who is definitely a HOOD! Patrick Swayze plays Jack Charles who is a hood always on the look-out for the one big "score" that is going to put him on easy street. His wife died while he was is prison and his two kids were put in foster care. When he "got out" he thought they were probably better off in foster care – besides he still had to score his fortune. His daughter Kathleen Charles (played wonderfully by Sabrina Lloyd) breaks out of a foster care institution that is abusing the kids and misappropriating money that is suppose to be being spent on the kids. She hunts down her father; tells him about how bad the place was and that her brother, Eddie Charles (played by Brian Bonsall) , "just a little 7-year-old kid" was being moved to the institution that she had just broken out of and convinces her father to kidnap him. The three start off on an adventure across country, all the while Jack keeps telling himself that he has to get rid of the kids! Patrick Swayze is really good in this comedy, playing a "hood" (probably a little understatement for this criminal character) who is similar to his Johnny Castle character of Dirty Dancing except Jack is appropriately funnier in this comedy and more optimistic than Johnny Castle. Swayze is funny and rally does comedy pretty well! Halle Berry plays Kathleen Mercer who is a reporter trying to get at the truth of the foster care system who becomes Sawyer's ally. Diane Ladd plays Rita the con-artist mother of Jack Charles.

Was the above review useful to you?

Loved it, 4 January 2010
Author: mrs-renee-jones from United States

his movie was great. I was 9 years old when this movie first came out. I can't tell you how many times I watched it. I have always loved it (and not just because Patrick Swayze is in it).

I love the plot and it is typical 90's style. To judge this movie by modern standards would be horrible. It's sweet. It really makes you think too (I can say that having worked for under aged victims of the state before).

In all, the movie is great, and I mean for all ages. Take it for what it is and not what you want it to be. I think it would be a great idea for a remake, but keeping to the original theme and plot as close as possible.

Was the above review useful to you?

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A good premise in the wrong hands, the film ultimately fails, 15 April 2001
Author: millennia-2 from In shame (2005 update)

This is one of those rare comedies that would've worked better as a drama. Possibly that's because, as a comedy, there isn't a single laugh, but the movie had a good dramatic premise, along the lines of Rain Man almost. The film's biggest fault, besides the dreaful, unfocused script, is the mediocre acting. Swayze is decidedly wooden, a sign that even he knew the film had little hope, and doesn't even attempt to breath any life into the bland film. The two actors who played his kids, Sabrina Lloyd (a 23 year old playing a 10 year old) and Brian Bonsall, don't fare much better. Though neither of them had roles that had any sense of depth, they still manage to disappoint, though at times Bonsall does hint that he has the makings of a Culkin like star. The film's sole redeeming performance comes from then-unknown Halle Berry, playing a reporter. Though her role is a small one, it is pivotal to the story, and it's clear why she became such a big star afterward.

Another problem with 'Father Hood', is that the lead character, played by Swayze, isn't the least bit likeable. If their intentions for the movie were for it to be a family film, it's unneccesarily dark and violent, but as a serious action/comedy, it's just too bland and boring. Pass on this one, it isn't entirely bad, but it's pretty close. For serious Swayze fans only.

Was the above review useful to you?

2 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
OK movie, 11 July 2005
5/10
Author: monkey-man from Australia

This movie was OK with some flaws the movies about how a man is on the run from the police with his kids who have escaped from a foster home.This movie was better then i thought it would be but it still was a little bit crap and the film stars actors and actresses like Patrick Swayze,Halle Berry,Sabrina Lloyd,Michael Ironside and Brian Bonsall.The movie has an OK plot but at times it got a little bit stupid and Patrick Swayze and Halle berry both done a good job at acting in this movie and if u liked Halle berry in this movie u should see her in the movies monsters ball and x-men 2.Over all this film was OK and my rating is 5 and a half out of 10.

Was the above review useful to you?

2 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Not an easy film to classify, but Patrick is gorgeous., 30 March 1999
6/10
Author: Patricia Fulton from Chicago, IL

Like most action movies, this one has an improbable plot and some impossible sequences. But this can be forgiven, since the movie is primarily a comedy. Patrick Swayze strikes the right note of comic, underclass insouciance, but the film does attempt to say something about parental responsibility and father/child bonding. It also raises some disturbing questions about the predicament of children in state foster care.

There are no love scenes, and little violence. With some language dubbing, this might be suitable for family viewing.

Note to Patrick Swayze fans: Even in his goofy rayon shirts, he's still gorgeous. And we never have to see him in prison clothes.

Was the above review useful to you?

2 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Bad, but not one of the worst films of all time..., 12 February 2004
10/10
Author: MovieAddict2009 from UK

Father Hood

I can understand why a lot of people hate this tale of a father kidnapping his two children and carrying them across America, but I've seen much worse, and--when I saw this years ago--I didn't think it was particularly awful. Patrick Swayze is the worried father who takes his kids on the run with him for personal reasons, and Halle Berry is the cop chasing them down.

Overall a decent way to spend a couple hours of your life. You could certainly do worse--ever hear of the film "Pod People"?

** 1/2 out of *****

Rated PG-13 for some traumatic scenes, adult content matter, violence and language.

Was the above review useful to you?

0 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Absolutely Terrible, 10 January 2003
1/10
Author: greg

This is, in simple terms, one of the worst films ever made. The story goes way beyond being tasteless and judging by the actors performance, they know it. There just in not one single redemming quality of this film. Patrick Swayze will have to overcome some major obstacles in his career, before people forget about this turkey.

Was the above review useful to you?

Add another review

Related Links

Amazon.com summary Ratings Newsgroup reviews
External reviews Parents Guide Plot keywords
Main details Your user reviews Your vote history