House Arrest (1996)
“House Arrest” is a comedy film released in 1996. It is directed by Harry Winer and written by Michael Hitchcock. The movie features a talented cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Pollak, Jennifer Tilly, Christopher McDonald, Wallace Shawn, and Ray Walston. It also includes supporting roles by Kyle Howard, Amy Sakasitz, Mooky Arizona, and Russel Harper, as well as an up-and-coming Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The story revolves around Janet and Ned Beindorf, a couple who announce their separation. Their two children, Grover and Stacy, decide to lock their parents in the basement of their home until they sort out their differences. Soon, other parents in the neighborhood find themselves confined to the Beindorfs’ basement as well, as their own children follow suit.
The critical reception for “House Arrest” was generally negative. The film received negative reviews for its clichéd plot, thinly written characters, and fundamental misunderstandings of human nature. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film a rating of 0 out of 4 and called it one of the year’s worst movies.
