Dark comedy ‘Bad Parents,’ a satiric look at youth sports, hits close to home
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012
BY KARA YORIO
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Today, like every Saturday and Sunday in the fall, North Jersey soccer fields will be covered with kids in cleats and shinguards, the sidelines stalked by overly invested parents fighting nervous stomachs and worries about playing time, mistakes and losing.
That was Ridgewood’s Caytha Jentis a decade ago. Now she is preparing for Wednesday’s sold-out Montclair premiere of her new independent film, “Bad Parents.” The North Jersey-inspired, satirical look at suburban club soccer life stars Janeane Garofalo and includes many Bergen and Passaic county kids in the familiar role of players.
This movie, in which parents have a physical altercation on the sideline and the coach is impaled with the field’s corner flag, seems over the top, but parents’ behavior can cross the line in real life. This week an argument at an Upper Saddle River football practice escalated, leading to the father of a fourth-grade player being arrested and charged with assault.
“Bad Parents” is not a hard-hitting documentary but a black comedy that tells the story of Garofalo’s character signing up her 7-year-old daughter for the club soccer team and quickly becoming consumed by the life and politics before she just snaps.
Also read Bill Geist’s “Little League Confidential” based on his experiences in Ridgewood baseball. He should do a follow up book, it would make his hair turn brown.
The Rec Comm has been very quiet of late…I’m sure they’re busy trying to figure out their next land grab.