Worlds Greatest Dad (2009)

Worlds Greatest Dad (2009)
written and directed by
Bobcat Goldthwait


Whittling a career from years of side characters and few forays into behind the scenes direction, Bobcat Goldthwait is by this point, just the guy that had the weird voice in the police academy movies. But be damned, he is no Curtis Armstrong (Booger from the Nerds movies), he is just quite possibly comedies unprecedented genius that no one has paid attention to.

Worlds Greatest Dad is the best comedy of the year, even after Bruno shocked the living crap out of us with its gratuitous raunchy comedy about Homophobia, and even Judd Apatow relinquishing his hold from king of raunch to a stout little film about comedians with Funny People. It is Bobcat's new film, his third time directing, he inserts his unique outlook on humanity, and delivers a dish so cold and at times poignant that it is hard to look away without laughing or being uncomfortable.

It starts off with a strained father and son relationship, Lance Clayton (played expertly by Robin Williams) and his son Kyle, do not get along very well. Kyle (Daryl Sabara) is stupid, abrasive and extremely crude, while Lance is just a well to dad who happens to teach at the same school, carrying on a relationship with one of the other teachers and has a failing poetry class. Kyle is an extreme pervert, one of the first sequences, is Lance walking in on his son who is trying to reach orgasm and choking himself.

We are introduced to this teenager as he is his, a monstorous personality, one that is despicable, quick with a crude comeback and very mean to his 'best friend'. His sexuality is confused, not meaning he is fighting being gay, but he has no idea what sex is, talking about how shitting on people wouldbe fun and how vagina's do not eat themselves. His crass nature makes it so he is unapproachable.

Lance loves his son though, and tries to include him in all of his life's details, including telling personal information regarding his love affair with the teacher and just plain ole trying to connect with his son.

Then one day after a particularily successful date, Lance comes home to see Kyle strung up against the end of his bed, dead from auterotic aspyhxtiation. As hilarious the consequences are, Robin Williams shines from this moment on, even though he is a loving father of a truly unruly kid, he has a breakdown, tidy's up his son and makes it look like a suicide. He writes a suicide note that ends up being released in the school paper and all of a sudden his not well to do grade D student, becomes a school sensation and icon for everyone who didn't know him.

The film deals with hard issues, with a skewed outlook on sexuality, secrets and suicide. However, Bobcat's sentimentality reigns high and strong, even when the comedy is downright dirty and disgusting. I got to admit, during Robin Williams break down scene, I felt his agony of not being able to let go. Its a scene like this where Bobcat combines Wes Anderson with a dab Farrelly brothers. But the movie is not without its moments of hilarity with enough laugh out moments to fill out an Apatow movie anyday.

Early press releases on this film suggested Robin Williams did his usually improv's on set, but Williams admits all of it was written and on page by Bobcat, and after watching the film I can only nod in agreement. From the years of watching Shakes the Clown or even Bobcat's stand up 'Share the Warmth' this harkens back to the comedians style. Subversive entertainment with heartfelt moments of shame and humanity. Look for this comedy, it ranks with some of the last decades best, such as 'Wet Hot American Summer', 'There's Something about Mary' and '40 Year Old Virgin', and truly Robin Williams gives one of his best performances since Fisher King.

Also be on the lookout for Spongebob himself, Tom Kenny playing set directon of Dr Dana in the movie! Enjoy!