A TV movie portraying the conflicts and bonds between a grandfather and his grandson, Generation Gap(2008) shed light upon social issues such as troubled teenagers and intergenerational tension. It was directed by Bill L. Norton, casting Bart Cahil as Ed Asner(the grandfather) and Alex Black as Dylan Stalan(the grandson).
At the beginning of the movie, we can see Dylan as a rebellious teen who has trouble communicating with his mother. As the last resort, she sends him to spend a summer with his grandfather, a strict war-veteran. Despite clashes between the two at first, they gradually bring about positive changes to each other’s life, fostering new friendship and experiences. The ending of this movie is both bitter and warm: the grandfather passes away, knowing his grandson has become a better man.
The themes of this movie are rather popular: the occurrence of family conflicts and the resolution of them through dialogue based on mutual trust and understanding; intergenerational influence on each family member’s life; the importance of family bonds and a positive role model. And several types of emotions interweave with each other, including family love among the grandfather, the grandson and his mother; puppy love between Dylan and his girlfriend Jenny; friendship between Dylan and his friend.
It has pros and cons for screenwriters and directors to choose such a kind of simple setting and plot which the audience is already familiar with. The positive side is the fortunate fact that it’s easier for the audience to seek resonance from the movie, since the same story may be happening in their own houses. The downside, however, is the lacking of a moderate amount of suspense and imagination which is needed to attract the interest and attention of the audience, even for a family movie like this.
To conclude, Generation Gap is a mediocre film which might grab the attention of parents whose family situation resembles that of the movie.
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