World's Greatest Dad (15.)
Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait.
Starring Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara, Geoff Pierson, Henry Simmons. 99 mins
The idea of watching a comedy with Robin Williams in is inherently abhorrent to most people; like Tony Blair, it is something that last seemed like a good idea when John Major was prime minister.
Williams playing a loser is a particularly grisly notion: it comes with the prospect of his squashed up, pre-slapped face looking out at you in search of sympathy. And he isn’t just playing a loser in this, he’s playing the worst kind of loser - the failed writer loser.
This century William’s only effective roles have been ones that have used his soppy image for menacing effect, (Insomnia, One Hour Photo.) One of the wonders of Goldthwait’s twisted black comedy is that it finds a use for all of his skills.
Goldthwait’s previous film Sleeping Dogs Lie touched on the subject of bestiality and his latest explores similarly dark territory. Williams is a neat counterpoint to that and helps ensure that it offers something more than shock value while giving it a stark poignancy. He’s funny and touching.
You’ll benefit from knowing as little as possible about the plot beforehand so let’s just say that it revolves around Williams, who teaches English at High School, and his strained relationship with his anti-social, underachieving son whose life revolves around pleasuring himself and being contemptuous of everything on the planet that isn’t on a computer screen.
The first half is more character based comedy while the second is more broadly satirical. Arguably some of the ironies in the second half are too easily reached but overall the film feels truthfully, very funny and despite the bleakness, oddly uplifting.
Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait.
Starring Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara, Geoff Pierson, Henry Simmons. 99 mins
The idea of watching a comedy with Robin Williams in is inherently abhorrent to most people; like Tony Blair, it is something that last seemed like a good idea when John Major was prime minister.
Williams playing a loser is a particularly grisly notion: it comes with the prospect of his squashed up, pre-slapped face looking out at you in search of sympathy. And he isn’t just playing a loser in this, he’s playing the worst kind of loser - the failed writer loser.
This century William’s only effective roles have been ones that have used his soppy image for menacing effect, (Insomnia, One Hour Photo.) One of the wonders of Goldthwait’s twisted black comedy is that it finds a use for all of his skills.
Goldthwait’s previous film Sleeping Dogs Lie touched on the subject of bestiality and his latest explores similarly dark territory. Williams is a neat counterpoint to that and helps ensure that it offers something more than shock value while giving it a stark poignancy. He’s funny and touching.
You’ll benefit from knowing as little as possible about the plot beforehand so let’s just say that it revolves around Williams, who teaches English at High School, and his strained relationship with his anti-social, underachieving son whose life revolves around pleasuring himself and being contemptuous of everything on the planet that isn’t on a computer screen.
The first half is more character based comedy while the second is more broadly satirical. Arguably some of the ironies in the second half are too easily reached but overall the film feels truthfully, very funny and despite the bleakness, oddly uplifting.
