Upon revisiting Kramer vs. Kramer, my initial recollection of it deserving every accolade seemed somewhat misplaced. While I once held enthusiastic praise for this film, a second viewing, many years later, has left me less enthralled.
In the majority of divorce cases, the husband tends to be portrayed as abusive or neglectful. However, writer/director Robert Benton decided to reverse this narrative, presenting Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) as the wronged party at the hands of his depressed wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep in her debut role), who abruptly decides to abandon Ted and their seven-year-old son, Billy (Justin Henry).
Ted is initially portrayed as the workaholic advertising executive, lacking interest in being a good husband and content to delegate child-raising duties to his wife. The depiction of Ted at this early juncture feels contrived. His indifference to Billy is exaggerated, seemingly designed to underscore his later transformation into a "good father." While some fathers prioritize their careers, Ted's extreme inattentiveness seems implausible.
While Ted's character may stretch believability as a workaholic, Joanna's character lacks any semblance of verisimilitude. Her sudden departure and the reasons behind abandoning her child hardly seem plausible. The film fails to provide a convincing explanation for such a drastic action, making Joanna's character appear more like a plot device than a genuine portrayal of a mother facing personal struggles.
The bulk of Act II becomes more engaging as Ted grapples with the challenges of being a single parent while juggling work responsibilities. Tensions at work arise as Ted's boss expresses concerns about parental duties interfering with his job. Ted's gradual bond with Billy, despite its bumps, adds depth to the narrative. However, Joanna's sudden return, claiming transformation, lacks on-screen exploration of her journey, leaving her character development incomplete.
A crisis unfolds when Billy falls from a jungle gym in a playground, resulting in a trip to the hospital and stitches. This incident later becomes a pivotal point in the custody battle, as Joanna's attorney strategically employs it to undermine Ted, much to her own chagrin. In an effort to humanize Joanna and garner sympathy, Meryl Streep portrays her character expressing regret to Ted for her attorney's "scorched earth" tactics. This scene is presented as an attempt to soften Joanna's image and make her more relatable, showcasing Streep's endeavor to inject empathy into the character amidst the legal turmoil.
The plot takes an intriguing turn when Ted loses his job and must find new employment immediately to have any chance of winning custody. The custody hearing becomes a gripping focal point, with the respective parents presenting their cases amidst character assassinations by competing attorneys.
Unfortunately, the climax of Kramer vs. Kramer is one of the weakest among Academy Best Picture winners. In an attempt to rehabilitate Joanna's character, she inexplicably relinquishes custody to Ted, declaring it as the boy's true home. This unearned, feel-good moment reeks of contrivance and undermines the film's credibility.
Despite initial reservations about Ted's character, Hoffman rises above the unlikability, portraying his transformation through improvised scenes with his son, expertly played by Justin Henry. Streep, on the other hand, struggles to inject humanity into Joanna's inherently narcissistic character. Jane Alexander, in the role of caring neighbor Margaret Phelps, deserves the highest commendation for her performance.
In the majority of divorce cases, the husband tends to be portrayed as abusive or neglectful. However, writer/director Robert Benton decided to reverse this narrative, presenting Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) as the wronged party at the hands of his depressed wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep in her debut role), who abruptly decides to abandon Ted and their seven-year-old son, Billy (Justin Henry).
Ted is initially portrayed as the workaholic advertising executive, lacking interest in being a good husband and content to delegate child-raising duties to his wife. The depiction of Ted at this early juncture feels contrived. His indifference to Billy is exaggerated, seemingly designed to underscore his later transformation into a "good father." While some fathers prioritize their careers, Ted's extreme inattentiveness seems implausible.
While Ted's character may stretch believability as a workaholic, Joanna's character lacks any semblance of verisimilitude. Her sudden departure and the reasons behind abandoning her child hardly seem plausible. The film fails to provide a convincing explanation for such a drastic action, making Joanna's character appear more like a plot device than a genuine portrayal of a mother facing personal struggles.
The bulk of Act II becomes more engaging as Ted grapples with the challenges of being a single parent while juggling work responsibilities. Tensions at work arise as Ted's boss expresses concerns about parental duties interfering with his job. Ted's gradual bond with Billy, despite its bumps, adds depth to the narrative. However, Joanna's sudden return, claiming transformation, lacks on-screen exploration of her journey, leaving her character development incomplete.
A crisis unfolds when Billy falls from a jungle gym in a playground, resulting in a trip to the hospital and stitches. This incident later becomes a pivotal point in the custody battle, as Joanna's attorney strategically employs it to undermine Ted, much to her own chagrin. In an effort to humanize Joanna and garner sympathy, Meryl Streep portrays her character expressing regret to Ted for her attorney's "scorched earth" tactics. This scene is presented as an attempt to soften Joanna's image and make her more relatable, showcasing Streep's endeavor to inject empathy into the character amidst the legal turmoil.
The plot takes an intriguing turn when Ted loses his job and must find new employment immediately to have any chance of winning custody. The custody hearing becomes a gripping focal point, with the respective parents presenting their cases amidst character assassinations by competing attorneys.
Unfortunately, the climax of Kramer vs. Kramer is one of the weakest among Academy Best Picture winners. In an attempt to rehabilitate Joanna's character, she inexplicably relinquishes custody to Ted, declaring it as the boy's true home. This unearned, feel-good moment reeks of contrivance and undermines the film's credibility.
Despite initial reservations about Ted's character, Hoffman rises above the unlikability, portraying his transformation through improvised scenes with his son, expertly played by Justin Henry. Streep, on the other hand, struggles to inject humanity into Joanna's inherently narcissistic character. Jane Alexander, in the role of caring neighbor Margaret Phelps, deserves the highest commendation for her performance.