‘World’s Greatest Dad’ Review

Release Date – 8/21/09 (limited)

Lance Clayton is a high school poetry teacher. His class is unpopular. He has a secret relationship with one of the younger teachers. His son treats him like trash. And most importantly he’s a failed writer. He has written novels, magazine articles, and other blurbs over the years without ever getting published. He’s just about ready to give up on his dream. Then a life changing event occurs and his depressing life spins toward a more positive light, but will it make him truly happy? This is a dark comedy, my favorite type of writing. I went in with low expectations and was really surprised at how funny it was, but it takes a dramatic turn which changes the course of the movie. It’s good writing but almost TOO shocking.

Lance Clayton is played by Robin Williams. He’s not his goofy comedy self but more of a character you feel sorry for. You just want this guy to find happiness in life. He almost has it but can’t quite grab it. His son Kyle (Daryl Sabara) is a pervert, always talking sexual and masturbating at every chance he gets. Lance isn’t happy about this but he has no discipline over him. Kyle constantly talks down to his Dad and it actually provides for some of the funniest moments in the film. Kyle is an outcast at school, constantly getting picked on. His only friend, Andrew (Evan Martin), thinks he’s a weirdo for liking German shit porn and talking about sexual things all the time. Lance’s girlfriend Claire (Alexie Gilmore) is very young and very attractive so of course he is very jealous when she talks with other men. Like I said, he just can’t find true happiness. The life changing event is the major twist of the movie and it helps his writing career a great deal. It really comes out of nowhere and blows you away but it sets the course for the second half of the movie to succeed. I could see why it might put a downer on the whole comedy aspect of the movie though but dark comedy is supposed to have tragic moments met with comedic results. Deal with it all you Burn After Reading haters.

I must mention one shocking thing. This movie is written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. Yes, the crazy talking guy from the Police Academy movies. I’m as shocked as you are. This is clever writing and a great dark comedy. Plus he put Robin Williams in a funny movie where he’s not the goofy guy, you gotta respect that. I’m not a big Robin Williams fan because of all the family friendly goofball crap he takes part in. I like his odd choices in movies like Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King and the underrated Death to Smoochy. More R-Rated stuff from Robin Williams please! This isn’t a movie for everyone as I’ve come to realize dark comedies are hard to pass off on the majority of the public. For example, Observe and Report wasn’t exactly received as well as it should have been. This is another one in those ranks. It’s not slap stick, silly, everything works out hunky dory type of comedy. But goddamn, its so funny. Bobcat, stick to writing and directing. I’ll accept the occasional acting cameo only.

IMDB – 8.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes – 80%
Movie Wiseguys – 7.5/10