Today’s quick review: Father’s Little Dividend. Stanley Banks (Spencer Tracy) faces domestic upheaval once again when his daughter Kay (Elizabeth Taylor), now happily married to Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor), announces that she is pregnant. As Kay’s mother Ellie (Joan Bennett) and her in-laws (Billie Burke and Moroni Olsen) smother her with suggestions, it falls to Stanley to walk his daughter through the toughest time of her life.
Father’s Little Dividend is a classic comedy starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. The sequel to Father of the Bride picks up roughly a year after the first movie left off. Father’s Little Dividend draws its humor from Stanley’s mixed feelings about Kay’s pregnancy, the rivalry between the two sets of grandparents, and the ups and downs of the pregnancy itself. Solid acting and a cute story make the movie an enjoyable pick.
Like Father of the Bride, the heart of Father’s Little Dividend is the relationship between Stanley and Kay. This time around, Stanley slips into a supportive role more easily, acting as an anchor for Kay in the tumult caused by the rest of the family. The movie knows when to introduce just a bit of drama to keep the story grounded, and the handful of serious moments let Tracy and Taylor show off the depth of their acting talents.
Apart from the snatches of drama, Father’s Little Dividend is a plain but effective comedy about pregnancy. Once again, Stanley Banks is a caring and long-suffering father who occasionally lets his own ego get in the way. Spencer Tracy fits the role naturally, and the jokes will entertain viewers who are used to the rhythm of older comedies. Still, the movie is missing the elegance of its predecessor, and its humor isn’t quite as sharp.
Father’s Little Dividend is a fine watch for fans of the classics and anyone who enjoyed the first film. Although it doesn’t hang together quite as well as the original, it succeeds on the back of strong acting, decent humor, and some meaningful moments about parenthood and marriage. Steer clear if you disliked the original or if you prefer more modern comedy.
For a more outrageous take on a similar premise, try Father of the Bride Part II, the sequel to the Steve Martin remake of Father of the Bride. For an offbeat crime comedy about parents trying to get a baby of their own, check out Raising Arizona.
[6.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043526/). I give it a 7.0 for solid comedy and some heart.