Directed by Laura Terruso from a screenplay by comic Sebastian Maniscalco and Austen Earl, About My Father has a enjoyable, trope-y premise that by some means doesn’t land, and a unbelievable solid can’t put it aside. It’s laborious to return by a extremely good comedy today, and although About My Father has its moments, its humor and story by no means attain the heights they had been maybe aiming for. At occasions candy and sometimes humorous, the movie leaves lots to be desired regardless of a stellar solid, and is an train in wasted potential.
Sebastian (Maniscalco) was raised by his working class immigrant dad and mom. He all the time noticed his father, Salvo (Robert De Niro), as his hero rising up. As an grownup, Sebastian and his father don’t all the time see eye to eye, however there’s nonetheless love there. When Sebastian decides he’s able to suggest to his longtime girlfriend, Ellie (Leslie Bibb), he asks Salvo for his grandmother’s ring. An invite for Sebastian and Salvo to go to Ellie’s household for the Fourth of July weekend brings all of them collectively in an surprising method, and Sebastian will do no matter it takes to get Ellie’s dad and mom (Kim Cattrall and David Rasche) to love Salvo in order that he can get their blessing to suggest. Naturally, issues worsen earlier than they get higher.
About My Father can also be comparatively quiet. There’s little or no use of a rating, which makes every little thing appear much less attention-grabbing, particularly because the comedic timing is fairly hit and miss. There are moments that will probably be chuckle-worthy one minute and cringe-worthy the following. To that finish, the movie by no means actually is aware of the place it stands when it comes to comedy. It’s not as raunchy or as excessive as Meet the Dad and mom or Marriage ceremony Crashers, and even its sense of healthful comedy additionally falls brief, usually touchdown with a thud that echoes loudly.
The movie tiptoes between eager to be a household comedy and together with commentary that by no means fairly provides up. It makes an attempt to check Sebastian’s immigrant household with that of Ellie’s extra prosperous household, and it doesn’t work. It mines the socioeconomic divide for laughs, nevertheless it misses the mark in saying something worthwhile about it. What it does do nicely is present how Sebastian, who comes from a working class household, makes an attempt to suit into an higher class household whereas feeling embarrassed about how his father raised him. Maybe, unintentionally, About My Father establishes how the nearer one will get to affluence and energy the farther away they will get from their roots.
It’s a disgrace the movie is so lackluster, although, as a result of Robert De Niro and Sebastian Maniscalco have an important rapport, however a weak script doesn’t assist them in any respect. This isn’t to say the comedy doesn’t have some laugh-out-loud humor, however they’re few and much between; it isn’t price sitting by means of, and it truthfully turns into fairly tedious after some time. One of many worst issues a movie may be is boring, and About My Father has many boring moments which can be tiresome. On the entire, there’s positively one thing right here, nevertheless it seems like there’s a giant a part of the movie that’s lacking, a spark that by no means comes alive.
The movie’s solid is nice and, although the actors usually have nice comedic timing, the dialogue falls flat and renders the humor inert. About My Father has a coronary heart at its heart, nevertheless it by no means actually will get there when it comes to having a compelling story and humor to raise its scenes. Even the modifying in sure locations is questionable, and there might have been extra work achieved to seamlessly transfer from one second to the following. Whereas De Niro and Maniscalco have the sometimes humorous line or two, it’s merely not sufficient to maintain this comedy afloat.
About My Father is now taking part in in theaters. The movie is 98 minutes lengthy and is rated PG-13 for suggestive materials, language and partial nudity.