 Not a chick flick for sure! |
| Review Date: February 13, 2010 |
| Reviewer: G. Meyers, Washington, DC United States |
| 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. |
an honest look into the weakness of men
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| Review Date: October 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Kemp Lee, los angeles, |
| finally, a movie with a brain to go along with balls (or balls with a brain, whichever). cuts directly into so many of today's hypocrisies and absurdities that at one moment makes you laugh out loud and then next ripping the closest object near you. one of those "i wish this was a satire but sadly, this is our reality" movies (well, one of those would mean there was an abundance). it's beautiful to see a movie with such a brutal and unflinching look into the cult of worshiping at the altar of vicitimization of our world. it's heartwarming. |
great
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| Review Date: January 23, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Thomas H. Bilbrey, Red Boiling Springs, TN |
| i thought the movie was pretty good it aint everybodys kind of movie but i liked it plus i like just about every robin williams movie ive seen so far lol. |
World's Greatest Dad
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| Review Date: March 23, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Lauren A. Sepanski, Burbank, CA USA |
| 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!! |
RIVETING. WILLIAMS IS BACK.
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| Review Date: May 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Harkanwar Anand, New York, New York |
It could be my Indian upbringing but for some reason I always feel at home when I watch Robin Williams. It could be the kindness in his eyes or the fragrance his happiness illuminates but he truly is a remarkable actor. In WGD, he does prove to me that even at 59, he remains one of the world's greatest actors.
This film is for the morally tweaked, definitely not for those who live by calling everything mundane. It's funny, it's teary, it's funny, it is my film of the month. Do watch and share the word. |
Refreshing, Non-Hollywood surprise
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| Review Date: August 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Stryker, Washington, DC |
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+. |
An Amusing Dark Comedy
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| Review Date: December 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Joshua Miller, Coeur d'Alene,ID |
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 |
A VERY Dark, but Funny Film
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| Review Date: December 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: vitajex, Mpls., MN |
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. |
Bobcat continues to "ride the cutting edge"
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| Review Date: December 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. Steinberg, SLC, UT |
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 |
Dark, gritty, yet full of wit and depth
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| Review Date: January 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com, ...in Middle America |
"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) |
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