The real problem with _Mr. Mom_ is the pacing, and the direction. The movie isn't a total disaster, with a screenplay by John Hughes it's going to have a lot of heart, and it does, mainly the relationship between our mom, and dad, Caroline, and Jack. The love story between our couple is what makes the film tolerable.
As the movie drags on, it's easy to see that there is a great story here, but it just can't break free of the tiny box the director has it in.
Now, onto what it was like watching this in 2024, as an '80s child: a large portion of the humor here plays into gender roles that strike me as odd even for 1983. Like, how difficult it is to buy food? In other words, the comedy just doesn't land. The fish-out-of-water concept can totally work, but this was handled so poorly.
I'm a huge fan of '80s films, and this is a terrible example. It is also not a good representation of what Hughes could make.
What a missed opportunity.