''Firstborn'' (titled ''Moving In'' in Europe) is a 1984

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

starring

Teri Garr Teri Ann Garr (born December 11, 1944) is an American former actress, dancer, and comedian. She frequently appeared in comedic roles throughout her career, which spans four decades and includes over 140 credits in film and television. Her accola ...

, Peter Weller,

Corey Haim Corey Ian Haim (December 23, 1971 – March 10, 2010) was a Canadian actor. He starred in a number of 1980s films, such as '' Lucas'', '' Silver Bullet'', ''Murphy's Romance'', '' License to Drive'' and '' Dream a Little Dream''. His role along ...

(in his film debut), Sarah Jessica Parker,

Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His career has been characterized by critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, before a resurgence of ...

, and Christopher Collet. It was filmed in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

and

New York State New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...

. It was eventually released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 31, 2012.

Plot summary

Sixteen-year-old Jake Livingston has been the man of the Livingston home since his parents divorced two years earlier, that is, until his mother Wendy started seeing Sam. Sam, an alcoholic and drug addict, introduces Jake's mother to a self-destructive lifestyle. Wendy cannot see beyond Sam's charms or her own emotional needs, and Jake's younger brother Brian succumbs to Sam's ingratiating manner. Jake resents Sam's constant presence in the household, however, especially when Sam begins to establish rules and discipline for the boys and expects them to obey. Jake becomes aware of a

drug deal The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs through ...

of Sam's. He steals the drugs and hides them. Sam becomes verbally then physically violent with Jake, demanding the drugs be returned. Seeing this behavior, Wendy finally realizes that Jake was only protecting her and Brian, so she demands Sam leave. Sam starts beating Jake, then tries to beat Wendy. Jake stands up to Sam and demands that he leave, threatening to kill him if he ever comes back. Sam then leaves as the family holds each other. Wendy apologizes and thanks Jake for saving the family's lives.

Cast

as Wendy Livingston * Peter Weller as Sam * Christopher Collet as Jake Livingston *

as Brian Livingston * Sarah Jessica Parker as Lisa *

as Lee

Reception

''Firstborn'' received mixed reviews from critics. On

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

, the film holds a rating of 36% from 14 reviews.

References

External links

* * * * {{Michael Apted 1984 films 1980s teen drama films American teen drama films Films directed by Michael Apted Films scored by Michael Small Films set in New Jersey Films shot in New Jersey Paramount Pictures films 1984 drama films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films