MovieChat Forums > Uncle Buck (1989) Discussion > I didn't get why none of the kids rememb...

I didn't get why none of the kids remembered Uncle Buck.

posted 12 years ago by fiatlux-1
13 replies | jump to latest

If they'd only been living in their new home a short time (judging by Tia's still deeply embittered attitude & Miles' inability to cope with other kids), and Buck said he's been there when they moved in (he set fire to their hedges),
then why didn't the kids remember Buck?

And why didn't he really remember them? He had trouble recalling their names while in the car, and speaks as if it had been years.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] rosarypliers 12 years ago

Maybe Buck arrived late when the kids were in their beds already.

[–] jam_cl1987 12 years ago

Buck hadnt been there before. Thats apparent when he goes to the wrong house when he comes over, i also think its mentioned somewhere aswell.

If im correct then the barbecue must have happened years ago in the old house before they moved. We also dont know how long its been since they moved could have been years since they all seem settled.

[–] fiatlux-1 12 years ago

No, he'd been at their new house at least once. Buck mentions this when Bob calls him at his apartment.
Buck says "I haven't been at your house... since you moved in. You were right about the hedges, I never should have put the barbecue that close."

If Buck had only visited once, I could understand how he'd get lost. It was nighttime, and there were so many white houses there that looked very much alike.

And they don't really seem settled. Tia is still deeply embittered about the move, has no friends, and keeps talking about Indianapolis as if they'd been there at least within the last year.
Miles also is having troubles adjusting, and says so. Tia says that this is because of the move. If they'd been there for years, it would be unlikely she'd still speak that way.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] JukeBox-Bill 12 years ago

I just seen this movie again (for the umpteenth time) and I definitely agree with jam_cl1987.
When Buck says "I haven't been at your house... since you moved in." doesn't imply that he has been in the new house.
And there are other scenes where it is obvious that Buck never visited in the new house. For instance when he is on his way to Cindy and Bob and tries to remember the names of the children.

[–] jh66 11 years ago

Buck mentioned the barbeque, so the kids must have been present?

Also, they hadn't been there long?

But Buck gets the wrong house when he first arrives?

[–] jevicci 10 years ago

The matter of whether or not Buck had been to their new house is actually addressed quite directly when he and Tia are arguing in her room. She says, "Who are you trying to score points with? My parents? How many times have they had you here since we moved? Try none, until they went up sh!t's creek and got stuck." To which, Buck perplexingly replies, "Get used on your parents' time," and walks out the door. Never understood what that's supposed to mean exactly.

[–] gabby_bm 10 years ago

"Get used on your parents' time," Is Buck telling Tia that he's not going to tolerate Bug using her for sex while he's in charge. If Tia wants to be Bug's "human sperm receptacle" she's going to have to wait until her parents get home.

Aside from that, I have to agree that Buck had not been at that house before. The BBQ-hedge fire probably happened at their previous house in Indianapolis.
Good reason to not invite Buck to the new house.

**WARNING: MY POSTS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**
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[–] jevicci 10 years ago

Ah, yes, of course! Don't know why I couldn't make that connection. Thanks.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fiatlux-1 10 years ago

But it seemed like the kids had just moved in! They talked about how they couldn't make friends, and Tia certainly acted like she was new in town.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] Ken1260 10 years ago

Considering he thought Tia was about 9 or 10 shows it's been a long time since he's seen them.

[–] C3194 10 years ago

Saying that he hadn't been to the new house "since they moved in" tells me that he WAS there when the house was empty and had a party. I just sold my house in May and the people haven't moved in yet, so it's very possible that while the house was still empty he had a bbq and things got out of hand. Now, it doesn't explain why he went to the wrong house, but he is a drinker so it's possible he forgot; it also could have been a goof. When he said sorry about the bushes he didn't say "at the old house".

[–] nutsberryfarm 7 years ago

probably just playing coy...so he'd get them gifts. 😎

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