"Necessary Parties" is another of PBS Wonderworks series, which turned out to be quite a good series of short made-for-tv movies for pre-teen kids. This one address the situation of kids and the dilemma of divorce. It brings up an interesting point: what recourse does a kid have to maintain some footing and try to keep divorce from happening--since it doesn't just affect the parents.
'House Arrest' is the only other movie that I can think of that looks at this point, but rather unrealistically so because there, the kids, who could found no other way of changing their parent's minds, tried a new, drastic mode of therapy: lock your parents in the basement for a couple of days and force them to confront their problems.
In this story, a young boy approaches the situation in a much more reasonable way--by taking it to the courts. Chris Mills (played well by a very young Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is angry that his parents (Julie Hagerty and Geoffrey Peirson) have decided to get a divorce. He thinks that they haven't exhausted all means of trying to resolve their problems, and should try to because of the repercussions it has on their children, especially his young sister, Jenny (Taylor Fry).
With his parent's refusing to discuss the matter any further, and influenced by a Social Studies lesson on the Bill of Rights, Chris decides to hire a lawyer to defend his rights. That's how he meets Arhcie Correli (played by the wonderful Alan Arkin), an auto mechanic who went to law school, and reluctantly agrees to take Chris's case (reluctant because he normally doesn't try cases anymore) for the fee of ten dollars. He gives in because he sees Chris's conviction for trying to protect his family and especially, his little sister, who he claims will be hurt most by the divorce should it actually happen.
This is an interesting movie, too, in that it gives kids a sort of introduction into law and how to develop a claim by finding out 1) what the problem is; 2) whether that problem is a violation of an applicable law; 3) whether there are other cases similar to the situation in question; and 4) whether you have to persuasively and creatively set a precedent.
Chris is doing something quite unusual in the State of New York, so he and Archie have to come up with good reasons about how his and his sister's rights are violated by allowing his parent's divorce without their objection. It is a tough question, but an interesting one, nonetheless. He just wants his parents to really consider the how their kids will be affected by their decision. Because, when his parents announced their plans for divorce, their explanation just centered on how they felt about each other, and not addressing what it could mean for Chris and Jenny.
Both Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Alan Arkin do a terrific job. Gosselaar seemed more natural as a younger actor, than he did as an older teen on Saved By the Bell. Alan Arkin is hilarious and likewise natural as the eccentric Archie Correli, who makes quite an interesting and atypical lawyer figure. Probably figuring he had nothing to lose, and seeing how determined Chris was (who said he'd try getting someone else if Archie declined to take his case). He recognizes Chris's idealism and probably the importance of the situation, especially to one kid who would suffer the repercussions.
In fact, this movie is a good one for both children and their parents to watch. Chris wasn't entirely saying that his parents weren't getting divorce, but he was just trying to have his point of view expressed (and his parent's just gave him the deaf ear). He just wanted them to at least try to work out their problems and reach some resolution for the sake of the kids. What an interesting idea that is presented here, too, considering that the law often ignores the child's (those younger than 16 and 18, anyway) need to express his or her point of view.
And, if you like this movie in the Wonderworks series, I would recommend also trying out "How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days" which stars a very young Ilan-Mitchell Smith and a very funny Wallace Shawn in a story about building self-esteem. That one though, is more for the kids, than the parents.
'House Arrest' is the only other movie that I can think of that looks at this point, but rather unrealistically so because there, the kids, who could found no other way of changing their parent's minds, tried a new, drastic mode of therapy: lock your parents in the basement for a couple of days and force them to confront their problems.
In this story, a young boy approaches the situation in a much more reasonable way--by taking it to the courts. Chris Mills (played well by a very young Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is angry that his parents (Julie Hagerty and Geoffrey Peirson) have decided to get a divorce. He thinks that they haven't exhausted all means of trying to resolve their problems, and should try to because of the repercussions it has on their children, especially his young sister, Jenny (Taylor Fry).
With his parent's refusing to discuss the matter any further, and influenced by a Social Studies lesson on the Bill of Rights, Chris decides to hire a lawyer to defend his rights. That's how he meets Arhcie Correli (played by the wonderful Alan Arkin), an auto mechanic who went to law school, and reluctantly agrees to take Chris's case (reluctant because he normally doesn't try cases anymore) for the fee of ten dollars. He gives in because he sees Chris's conviction for trying to protect his family and especially, his little sister, who he claims will be hurt most by the divorce should it actually happen.
This is an interesting movie, too, in that it gives kids a sort of introduction into law and how to develop a claim by finding out 1) what the problem is; 2) whether that problem is a violation of an applicable law; 3) whether there are other cases similar to the situation in question; and 4) whether you have to persuasively and creatively set a precedent.
Chris is doing something quite unusual in the State of New York, so he and Archie have to come up with good reasons about how his and his sister's rights are violated by allowing his parent's divorce without their objection. It is a tough question, but an interesting one, nonetheless. He just wants his parents to really consider the how their kids will be affected by their decision. Because, when his parents announced their plans for divorce, their explanation just centered on how they felt about each other, and not addressing what it could mean for Chris and Jenny.
Both Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Alan Arkin do a terrific job. Gosselaar seemed more natural as a younger actor, than he did as an older teen on Saved By the Bell. Alan Arkin is hilarious and likewise natural as the eccentric Archie Correli, who makes quite an interesting and atypical lawyer figure. Probably figuring he had nothing to lose, and seeing how determined Chris was (who said he'd try getting someone else if Archie declined to take his case). He recognizes Chris's idealism and probably the importance of the situation, especially to one kid who would suffer the repercussions.
In fact, this movie is a good one for both children and their parents to watch. Chris wasn't entirely saying that his parents weren't getting divorce, but he was just trying to have his point of view expressed (and his parent's just gave him the deaf ear). He just wanted them to at least try to work out their problems and reach some resolution for the sake of the kids. What an interesting idea that is presented here, too, considering that the law often ignores the child's (those younger than 16 and 18, anyway) need to express his or her point of view.
And, if you like this movie in the Wonderworks series, I would recommend also trying out "How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days" which stars a very young Ilan-Mitchell Smith and a very funny Wallace Shawn in a story about building self-esteem. That one though, is more for the kids, than the parents.