Review: ‘World’s Greatest Dad’

‘World’s Greatest Dad’ is a truly sick and twisted dark comedy…and I absolutely loved it. The film is a fascinating study of human nature and is made all the more timely by two recent celebrity deaths.

Prior to watching the film, I did not read the synopsis or know much about it other than hearing some good buzz out of Sundance and that it starred Robin Williams. I had also heard the film was dark but I did not know to expect black hole level of darkness. Luckily, unlike black holes, the film does not suck. Its cheerful and light take on such a morbid topic is brilliantly executed. The performances are fantastic and the writing is sharp. Bobcat Goldthwait deserves much credit for writing and directing this film because it could have easily failed in lesser hands.

Robin William’s plays Lance, a yet to be published writer whose loner bastard of a son accidentally strangles himself while attempting autoerotic asphyxiation. He takes it upon himself to be a good dad and fake his son’s “suicide” which includes writing his son’s suicide note. When this note is published, the effects it has on Lance’s life are morally wrong but oh so hysterical. The “ghost” sequence, which takes place at the school once the note is published, is one of my favorite sequences of any movie this year. It is funny, sick and beautifully done. Robin William’s is fun to watch the entire film as he delivers one of his best performances in a long time.

The film is not perfect but it gets nearly everything right. The start is a little slow but almost everything is necessary. Some throwaway lines from the beginning blossom to become very funny jokes later in the film. After about 20 minutes, the pacing really picks up and doesn’t slow down. Initially, I wished they had pulled a “Wrestler” with the ending and cut to credits about 3 minutes earlier than they did. However, while writing this review and thinking of the film, the ending in place  may actually work better.

Based on the tone and subject matter of this film, it is obviously not for everyone, but it comes highly recommended by me.‘World’s Greatest Dad’ is currently available on Video on Demand through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Greatest-Dad-Pre-Theatrical-Rental/dp/B002IVNLMS) and opened Friday at the Sunshine Theater in NYC. Thanks to our friends at Magnolia, we are running a contest to win a signed poster for the film so go enter now.

Jerry Cavallaro – www.AreYouStuckLikeChuck.com