Today’s Prayer Focus

World’s Greatest Dad

MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA)

for language, crude and sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images.

Moral Rating:	not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Adults
Genre:	Comedy
Length:	1 hr. 39 min.
Year of Release:	2009
USA Release:	August 21, 2009 (exclusive—California and NYC) DVD: December 8, 2009

Relevant Issues

Death in the Bible

Hypocrites

Sin

Lying

Poetry in the Bible

What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer

How can I deal with temptations? Answer

GAY—What’s wrong with being gay? Answer
Homosexual behavior versus the Bible: Are people born gay? Does homosexuality harm anyone? Is it anyone’s business? Are homosexual and heterosexual relationships equally valid?

What about gays needs to change? Answer
It may not be what you think.

Read stories about those who have struggled with homosexuality

Learn how to make your love the best it can be. Christian answers to questions about sex, marriage, sexual addictions, and more. Valuable resources for Christian couples, singles and pastors.

Featuring	Robin Williams, Steve Anderson, Danielle Barnum, Heidi Barrientes, Constance Best, Breighana Campion, Jessi Canlas, Max Canlas, Brittany Christine, See all » Matt Clark, Gary, Alexie Gilmore, Naomi Glick, Brandii R. Grace, Deborah Horne, Bruce Hornsby, Toby Huss, Ellie Jameson, Tom Kenny, Evan Martin, John McCafferty Sr., Mitzi McCall, John Misner, Alles Mist, Michael Thomas Moore, Crystal Rainbow Mort, Morgan Murphy, Gary Nelson, T.J. Newton, Lorraine Nicholson, Geoffrey Pierson, Daryl Sabara, Zach Sanchez, Richard Scott, Henry Simmons, Melissa Pang Stenoien, Mara Stevë, Tony V., Peter Weinstein, Jermaine Williams, Anne Sheridan Kennedy
Director	Bob Goldthwait
Producer	Darko Entertainment, Jerkschool Productions, Process Productions, Sarah de Sa Rego, Howard Gertler, Ted Hamm, Richard Kelly, Sean McKittrick, Tim Perell, Jennifer Roth
Distributor	Magnolia Films

“Lance Clayton is about to get everything he deserves.”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “A comedy about a man who learns that the things you want most may not be the things that make you happy, and that being lonely is not necessarily the same as being alone.

Lance is a high school teacher who protects his family from shame following the embarrassing accidental death of his son. Lance writes a fake suicide note to cover up the death, but without permission the note is published and becomes an unexpected hit. Keen to be a successful author, Lance produces an entire journal which he passes off as his son’s.”

Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

Positive
Negative
Critics
Non-viewer comments

Positive

none

Negative

Negative—…a twisted satire that represents the worst of Hollywood. The language and humor are extremely perverse, indeed almost X-rated; the leading characters are shallow and immoral; and in general it’s a movie that will leave you feeling empty. The “R” rating is well-deserved. The sad thing is that the DVD jacket will tease many unsuspecting viewers into thinking this is just another hilarious Robin Williams comedy. Rather, the movie is quite depressing, and the extremely gross sexual talk will surprise even the most jaded movie viewer.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2

Peter H., age 51 (USA)

Comments from non-viewers

Negative—I started to watch this movie, and actually was only able to handle about fifteen minutes of it before I had to stop. The language was very offensive from the very first sentence out of Robin Williams mouth. It did not get any better once his teen son started talking. The references to perverted sexual behavior abounded, and only seemed to get worse as it went on. I don’t know how the show ended, and frankly I don’t care. I would not suggest anyone watch this show, or even consider watching it. I never considered Robin Williams to be a good actor, but this movie was a low spot… even for Him.

Evangelist Paul Dodson, age 50 (USA)

Movie Critics

…visually clunky and awkwardly paced… Williams manages to soften his manic edge without turning into an energy-sucking black hole. The movie’s ending is something of a train wreck, but until then there’s plenty to mull over.

Sam Adam, Philadelphia City Paper

…a satire with some clever, funny, profound, and ultimately heartbreaking insights about the sinfulness, hypocrisy and gullibility of human beings, but it has very crude sexual content that goes too far in more than one way. …

Movieguide

…Robin Williams is the star, demonstrating once again that he’s sometimes better in drama than comedy. He has that manic side he indulges, and he works better (for me, anyway) when he’s grounded. …[3/4]

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

…Kyle might be the most repellent teenager in movie history, and Goldthwait is unsparing in the way he depicts this creepy kid and the poison he spews at his well-meaning, doormat of a dad. … For all of its cutting cynicism, “Dad” proves unexpectedly moving in its portrait of a middle-aged man leaving childish things behind.

Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times

…In “World’s Greatest Dad,” the convention up for ridicule is the valorizing sentimentality we attach to the suicide of a teenager. …The film retains an icky tone right up until its cloyingly redemptive final minutes. … ultimately offers some ironic amusement but wallows too long in the sins of its father.

Claudia Puig, USA Today

…though wildly uneven, the film sometimes comes within screaming distance of the sick ironies of Heathers…

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York