Under the Influence (1986)

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TV movies are where topical "issue" stories used to go. Under the Influence is definitely of that ilk, being about a family whose patriarch is an alcoholic (also, mean and demanding), a disease that has more or less destroyed his family. Andy Griffith stars, the other name of note being Keanu Reeves as the son most struggling with the sins of the father. He also has a daughter who's popping pills, but the title mostly refers to the fact that they've been under this man's thumb since forever and everything they do is a reaction to his moods. It can get a bit PSA here and there - TV movies often had a kind of educational remit - but it scores some points due to its unusual structure, intercutting the drama with the eldest son's stand-up routines, which inform the action without hitting that "cleverness" too hard, and relieves the tension as this is otherwise a very heavy story. It's not explicitly said, but the two most creative kids cope better than the business-driven ones, perhaps because they have an outlet for their feelings. Those that don't revisit the father's own kind of escape. And the performances are good. 4 years 9 months ago