Firstborn (1984)
Average Rating: 4.2/10
Reviews Counted: 12
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 8
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2
liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 1,605
My Rating
Movie Info
A teenager and his kid brother spar with their mother's shady new boyfriend in this dramatic thriller from veteran British director Michael Apted. When her ex-husband remarries, Wendy (Teri Garr) feels despondent -- until she starts dating handsome, unctuous Sam (Peter Weller), an underemployed salesman with no shortage of big ideas. Excited to finally feel good about herself again, Wendy invites Sam to move in and offers to invest in his get-rich-quick schemes. None of this sits well with her
Jun 1, 1984 Wide
Jul 31, 2012
Paramount Home Video
Cast
-
Teri Garr
Wendy -
Peter Weller
Sam -
Christopher Collet
Jake -
Corey Haim
Brian -
Sarah Jessica Parker
Lisa -
Richard Brandon
Dad -
James Harper
Mr. Rader -
Richard E. Szlasa
Coach Gant -
Larry Atlas
Stranger -
Ellen Barber
Wendy's Girl Friend -
-
Christopher Gartin
Adam -
Josh Hamilton
Brad -
Gayle Harbor
Joanne -
Sarah Inglis
Jill -
Beverly W. May
Mrs. Mercer -
-
Frank Ferrara
Driver of Car -
-
-
Vebe Borge
Friend -
Joseph M. Costa
Headman -
Brian Lima
Robby -
Christopher Russo
Beckman
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All Critics (12) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (8)
The movie creates such an urgent situation, and fills it with such interesting characters, that when everything goes wrong at the end I felt more than disappointed, I felt cheated.
Top CriticThe best things about Firstborn are the easy, natural performances of the actors.
It might have worked if Apted were as adept at creating an emotional atmosphere as he is in his portraiture of the suburban milieu, but too many unshaped scenes and redundant dialogue passages take their toll.
This flawed but interesting Freudian melodrama spends about 70 minutes making points and the last 30 minutes losing them.
A heavy-handed suburban sitcom.
Audience Reviews for Firstborn
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
-
- Sam: Your mother and I, we're gonna get that restaurant.
-
- Sam: I swear I'll hurt you mother god dammit!
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- Sam: The pinball machine is mine Jake, but you can use it anytime you want.
Discussion Forum
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