About My Father – A Low Hanging Culture Clash Comedy

Derivative culture clash comedies are a dime a dozen and About My Father is no different. Releasing on Memorial Day weekend in the United States, the unofficial start of the summer movie season, and set during the summer, it offers audiences some familiar counterprogramming for those looking for something else to watch. That being said, those looking for summer counterprogramming can find countless better options elsewhere. While the film may not be necessarily good or bad in the traditional sense, it lives somewhere within that middle ground which puts it more on the dull side. Playing it safe in just about every way, its chronic inability to try anything different fails to make it stand out. Though it may not be an absolute trainwreck, the writing certainly did not do it any favors. The film has its moments but for the most part, the humor fails to land. In order to solidify any culture clash, the film fails to solidify both sides of the conversation in a compelling way, resulting in depicting the other side as one-note caricatures to prop up the other side. In the end, the film’s saving grace is the dynamic of Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert De Niro and their chemistry which elevates them, albeit slightly, above the material.

Even without its self-explanatory title, it’s easy to see where About My Father inevitably goes. The film follows Sebastian (Maniscalco), a man looking for the right moment to propose to his fiancée Ellie (Bibb). Invited by her to spend the upcoming 4th of July weekend at her rich family’s summer home, he believed then to be the time. However, Sebastian needed his single father Salvo’s (De Niro) approval. An Italian immigrant and veteran who sought out a better life for him and his family as a hair stylist, Sebastian idolized his father as he instilled in him everything he knew over the years, teaching him how to be a man. They were still very close therefore he felt guilty leaving his father behind. Ultimately, that guilt won out over the potential embarrassment that Salvo’s presence would cause as the two made the trek to Ellie’s family’s summer home for the weekend so he could meet Ellie’s family and make his decision about Sebastian’s potential engagement. Coming from a life of lesser means, the lavish lifestyle of Ellie’s family whose wealth stemmed from a hotel empire, Salvo had some thoughts.

The challenge for Sebastian was to reign in his father to ensure their weekend goes smoothly enough for him to then propose to Ellie but he wasn’t the only one reflecting on their future. Now it wouldn’t be much of a film if things went smoothly so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that they didn’t. The social commentary through the contrast between Sebastian and Salvo and Ellie’s family, including her US Senator mother Tigger (Kim Cattrall), CEO father Bill (David Rasche), her dudebro brother Lucky (Anders Holm), and her progressive hippie brother Doug (Brett Dier), wasn’t exactly subtle as most of the associated humor failed to land. Trying to fit into their new environment, there were some hiccups. While not original material by any means, there was some entertainment there and some drama as Sebastian and Salvo eventually lost sight of who they really were, focusing on who they thought they should be, or at least who Sebastian thought they should be, instead of being themselves. Something had to give and lessons were learned as each family had more in common than they realized.

The best part of About My Father was its performances though generally okay across the board. The writing may not have been all that special but they at least kept it afloat over the course of its short 90 minute running time. Producing most of if not all of the laughs was the dynamic of Maniscalco and De Niro and their line deliveries as Sebastian and Salvo. Their chemistry makes it work and were somewhat fun to watch together in spite of the material that was more interested in playing it safe and could have done more. On the other end of the spectrum, Holm and Dier each were irritating in their own special ways.

At the end of the day, About My Father is fine which will be more than okay for a lot of viewers though isn’t particularly memorable as countless other films that have done the same thing this one does but better.

still courtesy of Lionsgate

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.