Gala/European Premier

World's Greatest Dad

Bobcat Goldthwait/ USA 2009/ 99 min/

This wickedly funny comedy sees a return to form for Robin Williams in
a film that is clever, thoughtful and laugh out loud funny.

Robin Williams is Lance Clayton, the downtrodden but oddly philosophic
one parent family to Kyle- a sullen, potty mouthed teenager, who makes
Kevin and Perry look like Little Lord Fauntleroy. Kyle is a loser who,
even his father admits, nobody likes. But when tragedy strikes,
Lance’s unexpected reaction sets off a series of events that see Kyle
lionised by the schoolmates and teachers who previously despised him.
Kyle has no redeeming qualities, except perhaps one- he isn’t a phony.
Lance comes to realise that the deification of his son has made
phonies of them all. Only when he understands this is he able to shake
off the sadness, disappointment and loneliness that has previously
plagued him, and finally connect without faking it.

Like all the best black comedies, World’s Greatest Dad straddles a
fine line between comedy and pathos. The script is sharp as a tack and
Williams plays Lance with just the right amount of insouciance to
prevent him ever sinking into sentimentality. The tenderness we feel
for Lance acts as the counterpoint to some outrageously dark comedy,
but finally allows us a genuinely uplifting ending.

Showing @ Cameo  17th June 20:25
@ Cineworld 26th June 18:15

Get Tix @ EIFF