I always find it difficult to begin these reviews, but in this instance I will start by saying that World’s Greatest Dad is one of the most misleading titles of any film that I have ever seen. For me, these words conjure up images of schmaltzy greetings cards that are religiously churned out on Fathers Day and similar occasions. Fluffy, clichéd pieces of tat that people buy in an effort to prove to their father that he is, indeed, the greatest in their eyes. Judging this movie by its title may lead the viewer to believe that they were about to witness an hour and a half of heart-warming, sentimental family comedy that you could put on for your elderly grand-parents.  However, this is not the case – unless your grandparents enjoy hearing about felching, anal sex and poo-poo play.

Indeed, this is in no way a traditional family movie. Robin Williams stars as Lance Clayton, a high school English teacher and single parent who dreams of succeeding as a novelist. Unfortunately Lance has yet to find the fame, fortune and adulation that he craves, despite his best efforts, and must settle instead for a life of mediocrity. His relationship with fellow teacher Claire (Alexie Gilmore) is going nowhere fast and his fifteen-year-old son Kyle (Daryl Sabara) is an odious little shit with a penchant for pornography and a distinct lack of manners. In fact, although Lance clearly loves his son, he finds it difficult to like him, and with good reason. Kyle is so utterly revolting and moronic that he makes sterilisation seem like a good idea.

Nevertheless, when Kyle accidentally kills himself during a masturbation session involving auto-asphyxiation Lance is devastated and, in a bid to preserve his son’s dignity, makes the death look like suicide, writing a fake suicide note in the process.  It is in the aftermath of the tragedy that Lance sees that, with a little manipulation, he could finally get what he has always dreamed of.

Robin Williams as Lance

World’s Greatest Dad is billed as a ‘thoughtful but outrageous comedy’ and I think that this is a fair assessment. There are certainly some laugh-out-loud moments, mainly involving the terrible son prior to his demise, and I really felt that I had been given food for thought by time the closing credits rolled on. Director Bobcat Goldthwait – perhaps better known as crazy Officer Zed in the Police Academy series – was reportedly delighted by the audience’s reaction to the film at the Sundance Film Festival, and this is just the sort of indie sleeping giant that could become a cult hit.  I felt that it really had something to say about the way that people are canonised after their deaths and, although aspects are certainly exaggerated for filmic purposes, the reactions of the “mourners” certainly ring true, especially when remembering the press reactions to the deaths of celebrities such as Jade Goody et al.

Robin Williams gives an excellent performance that is both funny and moving– although we actually see his penis at one point and it made me throw up in my mouth a little bit – ensuring that we are rooting for him (no pun intended) throughout the movie. The scene where he discovers his son’s body is particularly touching, with Williams conveying the raw emotion that one can only imagine a parent losing a child must feel. Daryl Sabara, fresh from starring in the Spy Kids movies, has great comic timing and is totally believable as the dreadful Kyle. In fact, we see the face of the modern teenager in a variety of guises – none pleasant – in the array of mourning high school students that crop up to pay tribute to their dead classmate.  This is not a film that paints young people in a particularly good light, but then there are only three characters in the film that do appear to be genuinely decent human beings.

In terms of criticism, it could be said that World’s Greatest Dad is a little slow in places and that the laughs are rather top-heavy with a majority of the gags being present in the first half of the film. However, the fact that there is a great script in place ensures that the viewer remains engaged in what is going on, and that we genuinely care what happens to Lance.

Overall, the film takes a potentially difficult subject – the death of a child – and manages to weave a comedy around it without taking things too far, or making the viewer feel uncomfortable. Williams is certainly on good form and reminds us why he is one of the world’s best-loved comedians and I, for one, always prefer to see him in more adult roles such as this, rather than in the kid’s films for which he has been known more recently. However, I could do without seeing his willy in future, thanks very much.

[rating: 4/5]