Continuity mistake: In the classroom, when Susan and Nathan kiss beside the blackboard, the blue loose-leaf binder on the boy's desk is closed, whereas in the previous and following shots it is open. (01:43:30)
Continuity mistake: When Justin disrupts Taylor's play, just as Gil feels the roller coaster ride, there's a shot of the stage and most of the set is already knocked over. When Gil's ride stops more of the set is intact and then topples again and again. (01:54:20)
Factual error: When Julie and Tod pick up the photographs from the photo booth, there is a Publix Market in the lot behind them. There has never been a Publix in Missouri. The film was shot on location in the Orlando/Kissimmee area. (01:54:20)
Revealing mistake: During the first shot of Larry being pushed out of the car, it's blatantly a stunt double who is taller, thinner and has shorter hair than the actor.
Revealing mistake: In the parking lot of what is supposed to be Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, all the cars have Florida license plates. This happened because Ron Howard shot much of the film in Florida, not in St. Louis, Missouri.
Continuity mistake: During the family dinner, the level of the wine in all the characters' glasses changes from one shot to the next.
Continuity mistake: At the start of Kevin's party, the horse seen giving a child a ride has a small white mark on his face, between the eyes. When Cowboy Gil rides the horse he now has a long, broad white mark down his face.
Factual error: In the opening scene at the baseball game, the announcer thanks the crowd for coming to see the St. Louis Cardinals. The fans are sitting in yellow seats, but all of the seats in Busch Stadium in St. Louis are red.
Continuity mistake: When Helen throws the pictures of her daughter and her boyfriend down, the pictures are all over the floor, and by the chair she is sitting in. However, when her daughter comes in the room to pick them up, they are all in a pile closer to the coffee table.
Visible crew/equipment: When Robards walks into the garage after Larry has returned the antique car, a boom mic is reflected in the trunk of the car.
Continuity mistake: The "lower intestines" made from balloons changes shape and color between shots.
Continuity mistake: After Todd wrecks in the drag race, Gary is running to the car and his hat falls off, but when he gets to the car, he has it on his head.
Continuity mistake: When Susan (the teacher) begins class she writes the word "bonus" on the board. When her husband comes in and starts singing, the handwriting changes in following shots.
Other mistake: When Tod has almost finished speaking to Helen after he's told her about his conversation with Gary, her hands are resting on the cooker ring. She had just been frying chicken so these rings should be scalding hot and she wouldn't have been able to rest her hands on them.
Continuity mistake: When Tod has spoken to Gary and tells Helen he is "one messed up little dude", she sighs and her shoulders slump but the very next shot has her hands on the counter edges and she's staring straight ahead.
Visible crew/equipment: When Gary is getting out of his bedroom you can see a crewmember reflected on the lock.
Visible crew/equipment: When Taylor and Kevin are playing outside, Kevin's knee pad is visible as he falls on the ground.
Continuity mistake: When Taylor is in the play she shakes her hat down, but in the next shot her hat is back on her head.
Visible crew/equipment: During the shot of Gill's crashed minivan, as the camera pulls out to frame Gill and his wife, you can see the moving camera and crew in the reflection of the broken headlight.
Answer: If a child becomes estranged from their father after their parents have divorced, it's not all that uncommon for the child to take their mother's maiden surname instead of their father's.
raywest ★