Review of World's Greatest Dad (2009) by Stuart K — 17 Jun 2012

Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, (Zed in Police Academy), this was his 4th film as director after Shakes the Clown (1992), Windy City Heat (2003) and Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006). This is a shocking black comedy which touches on subjects which shouldn't be bedmates for comedy, but it is, and it works too, plus it's star turns in a brilliant performance.

English teacher Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) is stuck in a rut of a life, his job is under threat. Lance is an aspiring author, but his submissions to publishers have all been rejected. He's a single father as well to his foul-mouthed, perverted slob of a son Kyle (Daryl Sabara), who is obnoxious and rude to everyone.

Just as when things are starting to look up for Lance when he starts dating fellow teacher Claire (Alexie Gilmore), Kyle accidentally kills himself during a bit of autoerotic asphyxiation. Lance is stricken with grief, but he doesn't want people to know how Kyle died, so he stages it to look like suicide, and writes a suicide note, which touches the hearts and minds of everyone at school, and Lance writes a journal that passes off as his son's own work.

It's such a dark and tragic subject matter, it's a wonder there's anything comedic about it at all. But, Goldthwait does it in such an offbeat manner that makes it funny, and it's good to see Williams back doing what he does best, and black comedy seems to suit his talents, (see Death to Smoochy (2002)), Goldthwait is a good writer and director, and it would be good to see more from him.