Title: World's Greatest Dad (2009)Starring: Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, Alexie Gilmore
Directed By: Bobcat Goldthwait
The premise of this film, from writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait, could alone have spelled its doom. The troubled son of a failed writer kills himself. The grieving writer then ghostwrites a suicide note which becomes public at the kid's school. The kid becomes a sort of folk hero and the writer reaps all the benefits. There is a little bit more to it than that, but I'll leave it at that as not to over-spoilerize. What could easily have been a melancholy character study about the selfishness we sometimes indulge in when grieving, instead becomes a piece of darkly comic gold.
Robin Williams is in top form as Lance Clayton, the boy's father. It's his performance that allows us to share in this journey with him. The character could have come across as a callous, selfish ass of a man. Instead, we sympathize. We get it. When speaking for his dead son, Lance finally found a voice of his own. It makes sense that he would be hesitant to give that up.
Another performance worth mentioning is that of Daryl Sabara as the son, Kyle. Goldthwait wrote Kyle as everything a teenage boy should be. He's crass, vulgar, horny, disrespectful, innocent and confused. But the words on the page can only take us so far. Sabara brings to him a certain amount of credibility. He makes him not only believable, but likeable. Maturation is a tough thing to go through and Sabara conveys this masterfully. He makes us understand where he is coming from.
I tip my hat to Bobcat Goldthwait. This movie is incredible. It hits every single note that it strives for. From the script, which includes well-developed and insightful characters; to the editing, which is done masterfully; to the (perfect) soundtrack, this film succeeds from top to bottom.
Highly recommended.
Score: 9/10
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