Making One For the Kids

The Film Yap Lexicon is comprised of terms for certain phenomena in movies that occur often enough to form a pattern, typically things that are patently ludicrous either narratively, physically, or are the result of misguided choices by filmmakers. These terms usually are derived from the prime examples of this phenomena.

Making One For the Kids

When a usually respectable actor stars, particularly those known for making serious, adult-themed pictures, star in a ludicrously bad children's movie using the excuse that he or she wanted to make a movie "my kids could watch." These films frequently involve talking and/or anthrophamorphized animals, poor slapstick comedy, or a ludicrously bad or contrived presence that would in most cases be a humiliating career move.

Examples include John Travolta and Robin Williams in "Old Dogs," Vin Diesel in "The Pacifier," or William H. Macy in "Marmaduke."

One could say "Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was "making one for the kids" when he agreed to do films like "Tooth Fairy" and "The Game Plan."

Comment below to add your own instances of “Making One for the Kids,” or offer new Film Yap Lexicon entries at lexicon@thefilmyap.com!