"How richly bizarre..."      

FATHER'S DAY (PG-13) 

Those of you who are fans of either Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, or Ivan Reitman may understandably have some high expectations for this trio's latest effort, Father's Day.  The story centers around two middle aged men (Crystal and Williams) who are each told by an ex-girlfriend that they are the father of her 16-year old boy.  They are also then told that the boy has run away from home and has been missing for two weeks.  "Will you help find him?"

As you can imagine the answer to this question is "yes."  Unfortunately, it turns out that these two men have the same ex-girlfriend, and that they are searching for the same boy!  Movies being what they are, these two would-be fathers eventually meet up during their search, and despite the fact that their ex-girlfriend obviously lied to each of them, and despite the question of which man is the boy's real father, the two decide to team up in their search.  Robin Williams and Billy Crystal, what a team!!!

Well, that's what I thought at first.  As it turns out, Father's Day is one of the weakest efforts I've seen come out of Williams, Crystal, or director Reitman in recent history.  This film, which you'd imagine to be quite funny and creative, is no more than a slightly amusing cliche of a comedy.  Williams in particular turns in a very tired performance as the whiny, unstable would-be dad, repeatedly crossing the eccentric/annoying line throughout the film.  Crystal is fortunately much more entertaining (check out that headbutting technique...), but even his efforts seem to be drowned in this mixed-up story.  Some points:

1. The mother/ex-girlfriend (Nastassja Kinski) is, as far as I can tell, a pathological liar.  She lies to both would-be fathers, lies to her husband (who also thinks he's the father), and possibly lies to her son (it's hard to tell after a while).  As this film concludes, she supposedly reveals who the "real" father is, but as questionable as her character is (remember, she was sleeping with all three of these guys at the same time), who knows what to believe from her?

2. The son (Charlie Hoffheimer) isn't any better than his mother.  Aside from his trouble with the resident drug dealers in the film, he also ends up lying to everyone at the end of this movie. 

What's the matter with this family!?!?

As it turns out, just about every other major cast member in this film is a relatively decent person, but as honorable as everyone's efforts are to help mother and son reunite, considering points 1. and 2. above you really have to ask: "Is it me or are all these people just schmucks?"  Father's Day is one of those films where people lie and are lied to, yet everyone seems ok with it all.  Sorry, that's not quite my idea of either family or comedy.  It's really too bad Williams and Crystal got sucked into this project--as it turns out, the "behind the scenes" HBO special on this film is funnier and more entertaining than the film itself. 

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

doyoulikemyhat@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "It's a charming movie granted its not an oscar worthy film. I enjoyed it a lot cause its one of those movies I could watch with my dad and just smile at." (8/18/01)

David Rogers gives this movie  stars: "Well it wasn't as dissapointing as Dead Poets Society. And Fuzzydog, I'd like to point out another mistake you made. In the title the apstrophe goes after the S, not before. They did this because there was more than one father." (5/6/00)

ktancuan@holly.colostate.edu gives this film  stars: "For once, I completely agree with your review. What a DISAPPOINTMENT and a waste of talent!! Besides that, I don't think any of the characters had any redeeming qualities!" (5/18/97)