7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.9 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Lance Clayton is a man who has learned to settle. He dreamed of being a rich and famous writer, but has only managed to make it as a high school poetry teacher. His only son Kyle is an insufferable jackass who won't give his father the time of day. Lance dates Claire, the school's adorable art teacher, but she doesn't want to get serious -- or even acknowledge publicly that they are dating. Then, in the wake of a freak accident, Lance suffers the worst tragedy and greatest opportunity of his life. He is suddenly faced with the possibility of all the fame, fortune and popularity he ever dreamed of, if he can only live with the knowledge of how he got there.
Starring: Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara, Geoff Pierson, Henry SimmonsDark humor | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
You don’t have to plumb the archives of history to find examples of how death provides a chance to reevaluate the life of the deceased. Look no further than the orgiastic media furor surrounding Michael Jackson’s funeral. When the guy was alive, we all thought he was a likely pederast with wacko delusions, a walking freak show who named one of his children “Blanket,” and who dangled the poor kid over a hotel balcony while paparazzi snapped photos below. Post-mortem, however, he was almost unanimously beatified as Michael, patron saint of pop, and the darker insinuations of his Peter Pan obsession and self-proclaimed love for children were swept under the rug of nostalgia. In World’s Greatest Dad, a black and emotionally acute comedy written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, this funereal propensity to forgive and forget isn’t seen as compassion in the face of death’s finality, but rather as an opportunity for mourners to somehow make the death about themselves. It’s cynical, yes, but while Goldthwait satirizes a high school community’s response to the death of student Kyle Clayton—a repulsive pervert with no redeeming traits—he also gets at some hard truths about fatherhood, fame, and the things we’re willing to do to obtain some manner of immortality.
Don't worry, the whole movie isn't upside down.
Magnolia Home Entertainment's Blu-ray division has given World's Greatest Dad a solid 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer that's true-to-source and a pleasure to watch. Slightly off focus renders a few shots soft, but most of the film has an acute sense of clarity that crisply reproduces the furrows in Robin William's brow, the threading in a grief counselor's tacky sweater, and the individual hairs on Daryl Sabara's ginger head. The color scheme is warm and saturated, dominated by neutral tones and a slightly yellowish cast, but featuring big splashes of color like the bright red school uniforms, Alexie Gilmore's blue polka dot bathrobe, and the lush green of Seattle's rain- soaked foliage. Black levels are deep without endangering shadow detail, contrast is nicely weighted, and skin tones are healthy and unwavering. The film's grain structure is fine and untouched, and only a few extra-dark scenes show any signs of amped-up analog noise. Likewise, I didn't spot any wayward artifacts, DNR abuses, or other technical issues, and the print is pristine. This one might not sparkle with the sheen of the latest blockbuster, but it's certainly a polished indie gem.
World's Greatest Dad serves up a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that's clean, dynamically sound, but noticeably lacking in rear channel engagement. In fact, for most of the film, you'll be wondering why the producers opted for a 5.1 track at all, as the most you'll ever hear in the surround speakers is some faint reverb from the music that's being blasted up front. But while there were definitely a few moments when I felt the film could've been more immersive if it had wanted to, I was still rather pleased with this track. It may leave your rear speakers languishing quietly, but the front channels make up for it with a well-balanced mix that keeps the focus on the dialogue—which is always easily understood—while also pumping out the occasional pop song. The Queen/Bowie hit "Under Pressure," perhaps best known for its bass hook, so memorably sampled by Vanilla Ice in "Ice, Ice, Baby," sounds especially fantastic. It may stay firmly ensconced up front and center, but temper your expectations accordingly and you should have no qualms with this quiet but effective track.
Commentary by Bobcat Goldthwait
"I will apologize in advance," says Goldthwait. "I tend to babble a lot to begin with...but I'm
recording this commentary on pain pills." No apology necessary, though, as Bobcat delivers a
brisk, often funny track that details his moviemaking philosophy, the history of the project, and
even his thoughts on the post-mortum reevaluation of Michael Jackson.
Deleted Scenes (SD, 4:07)
There are five scenes here, including a thankfully excised nightmare sequence that has Kyle
getting it on with Claire.
Outtakes (SD, 1:53 total)
Instead of wrangling up a gag reel, four short bungled scenes are collected here.
Behind-the-Scenes: WWBCD? (SD, 18:35)
What Would Bobcat Do? takes us behind-the-scenes and shows us that a set with Robin
Williams and Bobcat Goldthwait is every bit as fun as you'd think it would be. Includes interviews
with just about everyone involved and even some random Super-8 footage.
HDNet: A Look at World's Greatest Dad (1080i, 4:42)
Bobcat introduces the film and explains how he's filling a niche of comedy for middle-aged
people.
I Hope I Become A Ghost Music Video by The Deadly Syndrome (SD, 4:12)
Also From Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray (1080p, 8:30)
Includes trailers for The Burning Plain, Ong Bak 2, Bronson, and Red
Cliff, along with a promo for HDNet.
Judging by the title and cover art, you may think World's Greatest Dad is just another Robin Williams "paycheck" movie, but writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait mines a vein of coal black comedy in a story predicated upon auto-erotic asphyxiation and fraud, all while excavating some emotionally genuine territory. While the material isn't for everyone—this isn't a goofy teen comedy —those with darker sensibilities may appreciate Goldthwait's demented take on collective grief.
Paramount Presents #46
1999
1989
2011
2016
2019
The Immaculate Edition
1979
2019
1995
2010
2006
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
2014
Unrated Extended Edition
2007
1970
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#XtendedCut
2012
2006
2022
2019
1982