Customer Reviews

World's Greatest Dad

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

If you are looking for the typical Hollywood, predictable, cliched, played-out comedy-drama--then this is not for you! I feel it was an artistic attempt to analyze some very disturbing trends in our society and bring them to light in a dark comedy. You will recognize some of the troubling shifts our society has undergone in the last two decades, especially if you are an educator or care at all about our young people. It also has a lot to say about how we as a nation no longer have a genuine closeness to each other, little true togetherness and far little intimacy with our friends, families and partners.

You may think am I am over analyzing or being too deep but comedy is really just an exaggerated tragedy. That's what this film is. It gets the audience to look at some of our cultural weaknesses such as narcissism, superficiality, opportunism, objectification, permissiveness, etc.

Not readily evident, it also explores the ramifications of too many years of "corporatizing" our society--how it's affected the way our schools treat people. As well the corporation has affected how we place value on each other as people.

I know that was a long review, but if you appreciate intelligent comedies this one gets at least a B+.

It amazes me how so many people with the 1 star reviews just want to, no expect to see Robin Williams in just funny slapstick comedies. His performance is right up there with "The Fisher King" yet even darker. Spoiler alert: Dad becomes famous from his dumb ass kid's death from autoerotic asphyxiation. Okay now you know what to expect. So don't rent or buy this film unless you're ready for a extremely dark comedy and I couldn't think of anyone better to pull this off than Robin.

Robin Williams stars in World's Greatest Dad which carries a misleading title that sounds like another family, which I can assure you could not be further from the truth. The film is a dark comedy from controversial director Bob Goldthwait and it's not afraid to bring out some true dysfunction in its characters.

Williams plays Lance Clayton, a high-school teacher thoroughly unhappy with his life. His aspirations of being a writer are dashed with every rejection letter he receives, he watches helplessly as the pretty, young teacher he's been with seems to be falling for a younger, more popular teacher, and (worst of all) his son is an unlikeable pervert. The first time we see his son Kyle (Daryl Sabara, from the Spy Kids movies), Lance has caught him attempting autoerotic asphyxiation. Everything changes when Lance finds Kyle dead from the aforementioned act and sets the scene to look like a standard suicide, along with a fake note.

It's this that puts what Goldthwait is trying for in motion. When "Kyle's" suicide note goes viral at the school, the entire student body (who once despised him) sees him as a hero. This kind of story is particularly relevant considering its release this year. Does any of this sound vaguely similar to the death of Michael Jackson?

World's Greatest Dad is certainly in a league of its own, as far as 2009-movies go. It's a dark comedy, but has just enough of a light tone to make it commercially accessible. I think I would've enjoyed it more than I did without the lighter tone, but I do appreciate the way it presents it's characters. Kyle is portrayed as an unintelligent, foul, thoroughly unlikeable character. Lance is a little more complicated; he cared about his son, but is very much driven by his own selfishness.

Williams is great here, finding a comfortable medium between his manic energy and his more subdued, quiet persona. He plays a character here that is so unhappy; he's right on the edge of sanity. It's one of the best performances I've seen from him in a while.

World's Greatest Dad is a flawed, but darkly amusing film that is frequently hilarious. It's not for all tastes and many will complain that they couldn't empathize with any of the character's, but I recommend just trying to enjoy it based on it's comedic merit. Williams' final eulogy for Kyle is nearly worth the price. While it gets tedious, I do recommend the movie as long as you're aware of what you're about to watch.

GRADE: B

Bob Goldthwait directs this very dark comedy about a divorced struggling writer (Williams) who lives with his 15 year old son, Kyle- who is a vulgar, oversexed, ignorant, raging jerk, with no redeeming qualities. When Kyle accidentally kills himself during an over-frenzied session of auto-erotic asphyxiation, Williams cleans the scene to hide the true, shameful nature of his son's demise, complete with a suicide note to support the claim. When the school newspaper publishes the fake suicide note, it becomes something of a sensation, a call-to-arms for all lonely self-doubters. An argument could be had as to whether Williams continues the charade (producing a thoughtful, soulful 'secret' journal his son had kept) for his own egotistical desire to have his work appreciated by an audience, or whether he is comforted to have others share his grief, even when their grief is for an ideal that never truly existed. Either way, Williams initially revels in the pathos and attention lavished on him, but soon sees the myth that he created grow far too big for anyone's good.

Robin Williams' performance is strong- reserved and permeated with a quiet sense of desperate neediness, very much like his characters in 'One Hour Photo' and 'Final Cut'. When not bouncing around the screen and channeling annoying voices or characters, Williams can be an extremely sympathetic actor.

I do want to point out that there is a rather lengthy montage sequence that attempts to convey character's visions of Kyle that does not work, as it loses focus quickly, leaving a series of pointless shots of a semi-transparent Kyle standing next to other characters, resulting in what feels like a bad music video. And for the length of this montage, the film seems to stop dead.

With that said, the film is admirable for its original story and the intelligent handling of subject matter that could EASILY have veered past edgy and entered tasteless.

World's Greatest Dad hooked me the first time I read about it debuting at Sundance. I heard, "dark comedy," and, "Robin Williams," and was instantly interested. Then the trailer and plot summary really reeled me in. The result is a film that not only surpassed expectations, but also went in an unexpected direction. When a film is described as a dark comedy, it has usually still stuck to specific guidelines. Maybe it still followed a similar formula to what other comedies did before it. These other films that are labeled as dark comedies don't really break any new ground. World's Greatest Dad goes beyond that. It breaks any ground rules that were laid before it and doesn't follow any sort of formula. When they say, "dark," they aren't kidding. The subject content is pretty disturbing yet is somehow still humorous.

Robin Williams plays the role of a dad who's trying to do his best with the obstacles life has thrown at him incredibly well. With everything that's going on in his life, even in the moments of the film where he doesn't speak, it looks like he's constantly thinking about something. Always dwelling on what's going on around him with the people who are close to him in his life and trying to decide how he's going to handle this situation he's gotten himself into. While his role does show a bit of his comedic side, Robin Williams proves he can handle serious roles rather well with this performance.

While I obviously can't say much about what direction the film goes in without completely spoiling the film, I will say that the trailer does a good job of not giving any of that away. Once the film makes that turn though, it really follows through with it and doesn't let up. One of the best parts of the experience of watching this film for the first time is seeing how far the concept of the film is going to go. As Lance buries himself in this, people begin to say the actions that were taken changed their life for the better. If you told a lie that did that to not just one person, but practically an entire high school...how would you tell them the truth?

World's Greatest Dad is not going to be for everyone. Some people will love it and others will just downright hate it. The film isn't just dark, it's DARK. That and it's a very different kind of comedy with an unexpected turn of events. Most of the humor is very dry, so if that's not your thing then I wouldn't recommend it. For me personally though, it's one of the most interesting films I've seen in quite some time.

I had no idea what this movie was about, didn't see any reviews when it came out, so I had no idea who wrote it. I won't go into what it's about as everyone else has. I just waded in and let the movie unfold not knowing what to expect. I did however, wonder who wrote this wonderful and deep screenplay? Someone who can really write, I thought, and has his finger on the human psyche and condition.

Both father and son characters were badly in need of redemption. The father's needing to be recognized for his writing with some semblance of success and the hideous son, who was a major slacker, female hater, loser at school and life, and a budding serious sexual pervert. By giving the dead boy credit for the father's writings, the son was exonerated for his loser life and the father recognized (in secret) for his writings. Plus the book that supposedly came from the boy's journal saved some lives at school for kids contemplating suicide.

I want to see this one again. It's so deep, you have to in order to suck up all the details. Loved it!

One of those little movies who can!

"World's Greatest Dad"

(Magnolia, 2009)

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I have to confess, when I heard "world's greatest dad" plus "Robin Williams", I thought, oh god, he's at it again, doing another one of those schlumpy-guy-awakens-to-life generic, saccharine comedies... Has Williams no self-respect left? But, oh, how wrong I was -- this is one film that you shouldn't judge by looking at its cover.

Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwaite, this is the darkest of dark comedies, with Williams playing a soul-crushed, unloved, disillusioned high-school English teacher, a guy who was (and still is) an aspiring writer, but who has long since been crushed by life. A harried single parent, he has about the worst teenage son imaginable, a terrifyingly realistic creep of a teen, a kid who has no respect for his father, or for anyone else, and who is devoted to making life as miserable for his dad as it is for him. The set-up is deliberate and slow -- but once the set-up is complete, the way in which the film lurches sideways is completely unexpected. Kudos goes to Goldthwaite: much of the humor a bit too on-the-nose, but it's compelling nonetheless, and the nastiness is tempered by real wit and depth, and a willingness to delve into real darkness. It's not a film for he masses, but folks who are on the right wavelength, this'll be a rewarding film. (Joe Sixpack, Slipcue film reviews)

If you are at all familiar with any of Mr Goldthwaits previous films ( seems not too many folks who've posted previously aren't ), you shouldn't be surprised by the totally original themes and subject matter that the Bobcat has been mining for years. After all, what should one expect from a man whose first film ( Shakes The Clown ) was described ( deservedly ) as The Citizen Kane of Alcoholic Clown Movies. His next film ( Sleeping Dogs Lie ) explored the nature of interpersonal relationships and the significance of the truthfulness that ( supposedly ) forms their foundation from from a wickedly perverse, oblique perspective.

Shocking audiences has been one of Goldthwaits fortes since his stand up comic days. Bobcat is one of the TRUE American Originals. I was thrilled to see his newest work at Sundance last year ( living in Salt Lake DOES have it's advantages, ... it's only 1/2 hr. to Park City & The Festival ). I've seen my share of "odd-ball" "offbeat" films after 20 yrs. of Sundance and with The Worlds Greatest Dad, Mr. Goldthwait moves to the head of the line for producing/directing consistent, coherent, well crafted films that go where none else dare to tread.

What I'd like to think out loud about for a minute is the somewhat "unity of theme" between this film (WGD) and his previous film, "Sleeping Dogs Lie". The center of both films, I believe, revolve around the concepts of the truth, or more so, the ...morality of speaking or withholding a truth. SDL shows the dire results of deciding to not hold onto secrets, to be truthful, to tell it all, when maybe just keeping that last bit to yourself might be best.

The latest film, centers around the consequences of Not speaking the truth, of making the willful decision to purposeful misrepresent a fact, even if, at first, it would seem the best, most moral thing to do, the thing that will save your dead sons dignity. Two very different sides of the same coin. Interestingly, neither film decides for you which of these two sides holds the... the surety of moral integrity associated with doing the right thing, or of even presuming to know what the right thing is, and the pathos of the situation. While intentional or not, a very intriguing light in which to view both films again... and one wonders, could there be a trilogy?

In any case, WGD is a wonderful... decidedly squirmy film. Never a better performance from Robin Williams (... okay, maybe Fisher King...), with the tone of the film constantly walking the razors edge of... dreadful humor ( ment in the highest regard ) and seriousness. Some very touching moments, highly emotional, and some gut wrenching ( but still guilty ) laugh out loud bits.

While some of the details elude me almost a year after seeing it, and why spoil it in anyway for those who haven't seen it yet ( okay, a couple... like auto-erotic asphyxiation & Hallmark cards...), I do remember it being one of my favs at The Fest. last year ( or was it 2 yrs. ago ?...). I look forward to viewing it again, afresh, and rethink some of those details. More than willing to ride in the masterful ( but somewhat slimy ) hands of Mr. Goldthwait, as embodied by Robin Williams and cast.

Cheers!

MS

Favorite film of 2009!!! Amazing! Love Robin Williams & wonderful story & direction by Bobcat! =D Though gross and perhaps a little depressing at times, the story really pulls through. GREAT SOUNDTRACK! They obviously spent a pretty penny on it, bit it was SO worth it!!

Warning: Robin Williams does frontal, but barely. He hooks the viewer up in "The Fisher King" much, much more than here. So don't see the film just for that reason.

This film grew on me as it progressed. I think earlier I didn't like it due to Daryl Sabara's character. However, the actor probably made a great decision choosing this role as it moves him away from "Spy Kids"-typecasting. That's like the Harry Potter dude doing "Equus." Once the annoying character is no longer present, the film really gets good.

This film is about "creating a monster," in Frankenstein fashion. It also touches upon the controversies started by James Frey and his ilk. I love the way one character acts in a Poe-esque, "Telltale Heart" fashion.

Again, keep watching it and you'll enjoy it more. I have new respect for both Williams and Goldthwait.