RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 16, 2009, Film
"World's Greatest Dad"
Imagine having the most repulsive, disrespectful, moronic, perverted and dishonest teenager that has possibly ever lived in modern history. Now imagine that teenager is your son and you're a single parent whose feelings of loneliness and professional rejection make you feel like a punching bag.
Imagine having the most repulsive, disrespectful, moronic, perverted and dishonest teenager that has possibly ever lived in modern history. Now imagine that teenager is your son and you're a single parent whose feelings of loneliness and professional rejection make you feel like a punching bag. For Robin Williams, he doesn't have to imagine it, he has to live it as that father in the dramatic comedy World's Greatest Dad.
Superbly written and directed by standup comedian/actor Bobcat Goldthwait, World's Greatest Dad begins by introducing us to Lance Clayton (Williams), a private high school poetry teacher who dreams of achieving wealth and fame as a published author. The problem is that no one wants to publish him, or enroll in his poetry class.
Then there's Kyle (Daryl Sabara, the Spy Kids trilogy). He's the kind of boy no one likes at school, except one lonely friend named Andrew (Evan Martin), but the ill feeling goes both ways. Kyle, who's addicted to watching pornography, treats everyone like they're an idiot, especially his father who still tries to reach out to him and covers for him when he gets in trouble.
When an unsettling tragedy occurs, Lance manipulates his difficult situation initially with nothing but pure and honorable intentions. However, as events unfold, Lance begins to seize upon the chance for his long-awaited fame. While this, for example, causes his phony girlfriend Claire (Alexie Gilmore), the school's art teacher, to finally go public with their relationship, it doesn't cause Lance to feel satisfied. In fact, he learns that there are other avenues to happiness other than celebrity or money.
Maybe it's just me but the cinematic attempts by Williams to pull off comedies have worn thin over the years. This includes his "crazy" antics during late night interviews, which have become almost boring. However, the role of Lance Clayton is a perfect fit for him. Goldthwait allows him to have an extremely nice balance of subtle, understated humor while also pushing him to his dramatic limits when he must display emotion at its rawest intensity.
The solid, mostly unknown supporting cast is led by Sabara who magnificently pulls off being perhaps the most unlikable, unsympathetic teenager ever portrayed on the silver screen. Goldthwait's script is fresh and his directing style leaves one with the impression that this won't be his last attempt. Lastly, after seeing World's Greatest Dad, I'm actually kind of glad that I won't have to raise any teenagers any time soon.
On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, World's Greatest Dad receives a B+.
World's Greatest Dad is rated R and has a running time of 99 minutes.
Now showing through September 24 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for showtimes.
Glenwood Arts
9575 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS
Visit fineartsgroup.com or call 913-642-4402 for showtimes.
Indie Film Editor
Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.
In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.
Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.
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