WORLD'S GREATEST DAD
/
2009
DIRECTOR: BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT
CINEMATOGRAPHER: HORACIO MARQUINEZ
WRITER: BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT
BUDGET: ?
GROSS: $221,805
World's Greatest Dad is a dark comedy from the mind of Bobcat Goldthwait. Who you might remember from his role in three of the Police Academy movies. Or from his infamous appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno back in 1994 when, on impulse, he set the couch on fire. Or maybe you’re familiar with his first film, 1991s Shakes The Clown? No? Well, it doesn't matter, because based on that resume one would probably not be expecting much from World's Greatest Dad. But, much is exactly what we got (and I mean that in a very good way).
Robin Williams plays a high school poetry teacher who wants to be a writer. He’s written multiple novels and had them all rejected. Then, through an unlucky turn of events he gets his wish, but the way he gets it might not be something he can deal with.
Yes, I’m being vague on purpose. And, anyone who decides to check out this film should know as little about the story as possible going in.
Watching the film and the way the dark humor was presented brought to mind the films of Todd Solondz, especially Happiness and Welcome To The Dollhouse. Films that will make you laugh while reviling in their ability to make you a little uncomfortable as well (although "Dollhouse" and "Happiness" even more so than "Dad"). Rather then laugh out loud satire, these movies take on ideas and subjects from a slightly different angle. I guess we could call it dark satire, but I’m not sure if that would be mixing my metaphors so-to-speak.
If your only images of Robin Williams back in the aughts were from films like Old Dogs, Licence To Wed and the Night At The Museum series and was wondering what had happened to a guy that had been in some great films in the past... Well, allow World's Greatest Dad to restore your faith in him and the ability and willingness he had to step away from the middle of the road and explore what was beyond the curb.