World's Greatest Dad

Running Time: Just over an hour and a half

MPAA Rating: R

Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) is not the world’s greatest dad. That’s not to say he doesn’t try, but he finds himself going miles into nowhere by attending to his son’s every whim and absorbing every insult. Williams plays a high school poetry teacher (déjà vu) and father who is used and abused by everyone from his colleagues to his unpopular, perverted child (played by Daryl Sabara of Spy Kids fame). When his son’s perversion leads to untimely tragedy, Williams’ character decides to distort the truth in order to preserve the family’s dignity. However, his good intentions are quickly corrupted into exploitation of the mess and the entire community turns on its head as a result.

The plot seems to have some inspiration from scandals such as that surrounding the book “A Million Little Pieces”, a supposed autobiography of James Frey which was found to be fraudulent. In both that case and this movie, a fabrication is used to help people at the emotional expense of those who know the truth of the matter. The liars must decide whether the result justifies their deception, and must face the fact that the truth will always come around eventually.

Writer/Director Bobcat Goldthwait does a great job of creating and balancing comedy within a tragedy. The exploitation of a tragedy is exaggerated in a believable way, and spot-on performances by the actors make the satire work marvelously. Robin Williams' performance is especially commendable. While he is no stranger to dramatic roles, it can be difficult for most actors to pull together the best of comedy and drama at the same time, which he does fantastically.

The film gives a great message of redemption and facing harsh realities up front rather than blowing lies out of proportion. There aren’t many “Aesop’s Fables” lessons tucked into adult-themed movies, but this movie fits that description more than any other I’ve seen in a while. After a hardship, life goes on, a lesson is learned, people are brought together, and many who are involved are better off for it. Others, however, can only help themselves and leave others to suffer. As Lance Clayton so aptly puts it “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone”.