In movies, stepparents consistently get a bad rap. When it comes to portrayals of step families, families where one or both of the adult partners bring children from a previous relationship into the family, most mainstream movies perpetuate old and tired stereotypes: Stepmom is unstable, if not downright evil, and stepdad is a lecherous psychotic. Movies with positive images of stepparents and their children are hard to find, even in our culture where blended families are very common. Below are nine films with positive portrayals of step family life appropriate for a variety of age groups for your consideration.
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Lassie (1994 version)
Rated G. Suitable for all ages. The Turner family — dad, stepmom, and 13-year-old Matt — relocate from the big city to the country to begin a new chapter of their lives in an unfamiliar environment. Matt feels lost in his new surroundings until a stray dog named (you guessed it) Lassie arrives to help bring the family together.
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Yours, Mine and Ours
Rated PG. A 2005 remake of the 1968 classic that starred Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball, and the story is basically the same: Widowed man with eight children meets widowed woman with 10 children. Eventually, all 18 kids learn to live as one big happy family, but not before driving their respective stepparents and each other to the brink of crazy.
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A Summer to Remember
Not rated, originally made for TV, and suitable for all ages. Notable for realistically showing conflict between a deaf boy named Toby and his new stepfather. An orangutan named Casey helps Toby learn sign language and communicate his feelings to his family and the world. Hard to find, but you might locate a copy on DVD at your local library.
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The Brady Bunch Movie
It's your call. If you enjoyed the original 1970s TV show, then this movie will appeal to you and your children (Although they may find the clothing worn by the Brady brood a little strange.). The film makes no pretense of being anything but a truly silly homage to one of America's most famous blended TV family sitcoms, second only perhaps to The Bernie Mac Show.
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Are We Done Yet?
Rated PG. This sequel to Are We There Yet? stars Ice Cube as a stepdad trying to supervise the remodeling of a house to accommodate his pregnant wife's teenage daughter and son. It's a remake of the Cary Grant film Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, and throughout, Ice Cube is obviously enjoying contemporizing classic movie slapstick and screwball humor.
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Tender Mercies
Rated PG. Robert Duvall plays a country singer recovering from alcoholism, seeking to rebuild his life. He remarries a woman who has a son, and makes an effort to reconnect with his daughter from his previous marriage. Country music and Christianity are crucial components to this complex and critically acclaimed film.
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Juno
A surprisingly sweet yet unsentimental film starring Ellen Page as Juno, an independent and smart teenager confronting an unplanned pregnancy. Allison Janney's portrayal of Juno's emotionally supportive stepmother Bren is notably sympathetic. Juno definitely earns its PG-13 rating. It may not be appropriate for all families, but some parents and children will find it refreshing in its honesty.
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Stepmom
Rated PG-13. Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon are both excellent in this film about a terminally ill mother who eventually comes to accept her ex-husband new wife. Although it received mixed reviews upon release, it struck a chord with audiences for the way it dealt frankly with the tricky issues surrounding new love, old families, and joint custody.
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Step Brothers
Rated R. Ask adults to recommend a film about stepfamilies, and many will immediately name the recent, gross-out comedy Step Brothers. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly star as two spoiled, emotionally stunted best friends whose single parents decide to marry. Parents will find it either hiliarious or horrifying. Or both.
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