Tony
The original film Tony makes its debut on ResponsibilityProject.com. Tony was written and directed by Grant Heslov, and executive produced by Heslov and George Clooney.
Actor Tate Donovan stars as Michael, a relentlessly responsible father. But the Tony at issue isn’t his son. It’s his son’s teddy bear. Or more vexingly, his 6-year-old son’s lost teddy bear.
And therein lies the crisis, the challenge, and the question: Can you ever be too responsible?
Certainly parents who make the ultimate sacrifice of taking a family trip to Disneyland can already claim to have done the right thing for the kids. So when Tony is lost on that trip, shouldn’t a replacement bear be good enough?
Watch Tony and see how one man’s dedication and determination to track a child’s inanimate toy takes on a life of its own and buoys the spirits of a most unlikely search party along the way, struggling to find a bear—and their own surprising new depths of personal responsibility.
For a discussion guide with questions, please click here.
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How about ...
How about the art of letting go?
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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What am I missing?
So these people are too irresponsible to keep up with their possessions (presumably a precious one at that). Dad tries to ‘fix’ things by irresponsibly making promises he doesn’t know he can keep. Then a bunch of people forgo their real responsibilities to search for an object that apparently wasn’t worth keeping track of in the first place. My goodness. My idea of responsibility is much different than the one presented in this film.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Parents do lose things
Parents do lose things, even important things their children treasure. These parents no doubt had lots of more important things on their minds, giving their child’s illness. That said I have to agree with the last two posts that this father went WAY over the top to find his son’s teddy bear. Parents’ job is NOT to keep their children happy but to teach children how to handle the pain of loss—to listen, validate their pain, and then help them find ways to help themselves feel better. In this way they help their children prepare to handle the many more losses life will hand them, losses parents cannot paper over with stuff. When parents fail to do this, they are stunting their children’s emotional growth and preparing them for a life filled with far more pain than they can ever imagine. I thought it more than a little telling that even in this hokey—sorry—little film, the son was more than a little blasé about the finding of his teddy bear! Was this film perhaps a little more subtle than I at first perceived?
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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I thought the film was touching, but unrealistic. I do applaud such famous producers as Clooney and Heslov for making it and it is a fine testament to parenting. The fact that people from all different walks of life became involved is also commendable and idealistic, but unfortunately unlikely to happen. I found the son’s reaction (acceptance and understanding when he told his father ‘not to worry about it’), is also rather uncommon, but highly commendable. Many children often are very dramatic and throw tantrums. This child voiced gratitude for the “best trip ever,” yet appeared sincere when he accepted the bear’s loss as an unfortunate cost of an otherwise beautiful experience. This was reemphasized in his lackluster reply when his father informed his that he had found the bear. It seemed the father needed greater validation that he was a good parent, (something the son already knew) than the son needed the return of an inanimate object.
I think the lessons of the story are that parents should be the best that they can be (taking an ill son to Disney) and in turn teaching children to deal with and compensate for life’s expected losses and disappointments (lost Teddy bear).
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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I found it touching but George Clooney is not someone I want parenting advice from.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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To love and let go
Throughout I kept thinking that it would be nice to have the financial resources to do what Michael did but very few parents do. Then I thought about the missed opportunity to say goodbye to something important, grieve the loss, feel the feelings and learn to move on from the losses. Michael could have been a good dad by acknowledging the loss and supporting his son in the grief process.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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To err is human, to forgive, divine
I think this story conveys to parents that it is okay to be human and not take things too seriously by showing the opposite, a father going to extremes trying to make things “right” for his son. The quest to find the son’s lost teddy bear is met by the endearing qualities of kindness and sympathy of strangers. After all of his hard efforts the father is somewhat surprised by his son’s nonchalant response to the found teddy bear. Perhaps the dad realized that his child was more resilient than he thought. Hopefully, we can see that is not as important as to how many material things we acquire and lose in life as it is to show respect for the feelings of others.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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OH MY GOSH....I UNDERSTand
Watching this video brought back so many memories of the past 5 years with my son. The great lengths taken as a parent…to make it “right”. Although it doesn’t always get the “thank yous” in the end…WE must all know as parents we did what was right (and happy to do so.) Sometimes the lengths we go to are not immediately noticed but ALL parents please know throughout the cycle of childhood these lengths we go to do make a difference! Its called: Planting a seed!! Thanks for this venue to speak.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Feedback about Tony
This heartwarming movie is about so much more than one parent going to great lengths for his son. It was about the community of people, we see daily, on the street, in the office, and on the news. People of all color and creed understanding a father’ love and care for his son.
I believe it hit the mark…while we look different on the outside; the heart is still the same on the inside. No matter where we come from, we want the best for our children.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Mom
Wow! What a great piece this was. It brought back a hundred memories, especially one about leaving my daughter’s yellow blanket with the silky trim around it. We went back to the relatives house for it, but it was our understanding it had been taken on purpose by a not-so-great jealous aunt. We searched everywhere and never found it.
For my daughter it was the fact that we all got in the act and cared enough about the blankie she loved to rub to go back and search. The aunt is out of the family now, but her cruelty to all – especially the kids – is legend.
As Mark twain said, “Everyone can serve as an example – even if it is a bad example.: Loved the film. Thank you!
Linda Taylor | 12 months ago
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