MovieChat Forums > Deep Impact (1998) Discussion > Would any parents of a boy that age, all...

Would any parents of a boy that age, allow their son to leave?

posted 8 years ago by Jimothy3
6 replies | jump to latest

I mean if you can see past the absolute illogicality of a boy basically getting back to the house, finding his wife on the roads like a needle in a haystack, and managing to get to safety in time from the tidal wave, that this movie presents, would you really let your kid go because he wants to save his wife when you have arrived at the underground haven?

[–] malsbluedress 8 years ago

I've wondered that myself. I think in that moment his parents realized their son was now a man, and they couldn't stop him from going. His father recognizes this first. He'd decided to risk his life for this woman, which was a virtuous action. The parents couldn't stop him if they'd tried- and probably knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself otherwise. Anyway I totally agree it strains credibility but that's how I make sense of it.

[–] Dejay 8 years ago

Sorry if I sound a bit angry but I really hated that scene.

I think in that moment his parents realized their son was now a man, and they couldn't stop him from going.

He could have knocked him out or broke his foot or something. Not live with himself? He'll get over it. Talk to a survivor of war.

And there was nothing virtuous about it? For like a 0.001% chance to save his childhood love? What parents would allow that? How can the father and mother live with themselves?

Then again the world is probably better off with stupid irrational people like that. If the father and mother don't procreate, less idiot genes in the genepool.

[–] huwdj 8 years ago

I also understood the scene as the farther recognising his son has the right to make that decision. Maybe a bit of a stretch but it made for a good thread to end the film.

[–] julesfmb 8 years ago

God! Stop complaining about the character psychology! *beep* !

[–] BillyRed (17) 8 years ago

What got me was how the women and her child didn't have a spot on the helicopter until it was given to her by Téa Leoni's character near the end of the film (When everyone was being evacuated from the buildings). Why didn't she let her kid go on the chopper and stay behind alone? Kind of selfish.

[–] Costumer (1829) 6 years ago

Her child didn't have a place on the chopper. Jenny Lerner (Tea Leoni's character) did. She gave it up for Beth (Laura Innes' character) who takes her baby. Technically, the baby didn't have a seat, but the others obviously didn't object to a mother taking her infant.

So, Beth was not selfish. Since she didn't win a place on the chopper she tried to get out in other ways. When she couldn't she came back to the station since she would be up high (and her child liked the play room) giving her a tiny chance to survive.