Film Review: Character-driven comedy with 'Dad' takes dark turn
One might expect a movie starring Robin Williams titled "World's Greatest Dad" to be a heartwarming family comedy in the tradition of "Mrs. Doubtfire," but without the drag. One would be disappointed, even shocked: "World's Greatest Dad" is a very dark comedy that hinges on the awful relationship between a sad sack high school English teacher (Williams) and his unlikable teenage son (former "Spy Kid" Daryl Sabara), a boy so disagreeable he claims "I hate music" and "I hate watching movies."
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Magnolia Pictures
Alexie Gilmore and Zach Sanchez flank the ''World's Greatest Dad'': Robin Williams.
Rated R for language, crude sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images
Length: 98 minutes
Released: August 21, 2009 NY/LACast: Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, Alexie Gilmore, Geoffrey Pierson, Henry Simmons
Director: Bobcat GoldthwaitProducer: Tim Perell, Howard Gertler, Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly
Writer: Bobcat Goldthwait
Genre: Drama
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
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When the teacher, Lance Clayton, interrupts his son, Kyle, while the boy is practicing the type of autoerotic stimulation that killed David Carradine, dad admonishes: "You could have died ..." Responds the angry Kyle: "Of embarrassment!"
The grim humor of "World's Greatest Dad" won't surprise those familiar with "Shakes the Clown" (1991) and "Sleeping Dogs Lie" (2006), the two previous feature films from standup comic-turned-writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait. Like its predecessors, "Dad" is unusual and worth seeing; however, it's not entirely convincing in detail (it's hard to believe a would-be novelist like Lance wouldn't know The New Yorker is a national publication) or in its schematic overall story.
After the plot takes a particularly dark twist, the film becomes too enamored of its cleverness; the welcome character comedy becomes submerged by irony, and by a desire to say something meaningful about celebrity, death worship and so on. Still, those seeking unusual film fare might respond to "Dad"; if nothing else, they'll see Williams deliver his most effective performance in years.
"World's Greatest Dad" is at Malco's Ridgeway Four.
-- John Beifuss, 529-2394
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