- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Video Codec: VC-1
- Resolution: 1080p/24
- Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
- Region: A
- Rating: R
- Discs: 1
- Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
- Release Date: December 8, 2009
- List Price: $34.98 [amazon-product align=”center”]B002PI1NQU[/amazon-product]
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Overall [Rating:4/5] The Film [Rating:4/5] Video Quality [Rating:4/5] Audio Quality [Rating:4/5] Supplemental Materials [Rating:3/5]Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
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The Film
[Rating:4/5]
From the title of the film and with Robin Williams being in the lead, World’s Greatest Dad would from all outward appearances be a run-of-the-mill feel-good family film about your average middle aged guy, but instead is a dark and quirky comedy from the mind of Bobcat Goldthwait that is uneasy, quiet, and real. Lance Clayton (Williams) is a high school poetry teacher and failed writer. He’s also the father of an the extremely unlikable pervert of a son, Kyle.
The film’s first 40-minutes lead to a twist in the plot that I won’t reveal, but Lance finally gains success has a writer at the expense of his son, who in turn also gains popularity where before he had none. The problem is, that Lance’s success is phony. It is all based on using his son, but somewhere in there Lance learns a lesson about life. He also has a love interest in one of his colleagues, Claire (Alexie Gilmore) and he’s not above once again using his son to lure her away from another colleague, a much younger athletics instructor.
Worlds Greatest Dad is marketed as a comedy, albeit a dark one, but Williams puts in one of the best dramatic performances of his career. It is filled with subtle complexities. The way he is emotionally bullied by his son Kyle and how he is walked over by his beautiful, younger girlfriend because he is afraid of being alone is sublime.
Goldthwait’s film is shocking and unsettling. He is certainly unafraid to tackle controversial subject matter that mainstream films would shy away from and World’s Greatest Dad is all the better for it.
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
The supplements provided on this release are:
- Commentary with writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait
- Deleted Scenes (1.33:1; 480i/60):
- Gotta Get to School
- Only a Dream
- You’re Not Doing it Right
- An Empty House
- Mike Has Something to Say
- Outtakes (1.33:1; 480i/60):
- A Tender Moment
- The Mall
- The Limo Driver
- Top That Huey Lewis
- Behind the Scenes: WWBCD? (1.33:1; 480i/60; 0:18.35)
- HDNet: A Look at World’s Greatest Dad (1.78:1; 1080i/60; 0:04.42)
- “I Hope I Become a Ghost” Music Video by The Deadly Syndrome (1.33:1; 480i/60; 0:04.12)
- Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray:
- The Burning Plain
- Ong Bak 2
- Bronson
- Red Cliff
- HDNet
- BD-Live
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:4/5]
World’s Greatest Dad is a comedy for adults that refuses to pander to the lowest common denominator. There is a void in the market for films such as these and kudos should go to Magnolia and filmmakers like Goldthwait for stepping in and delivering. Recommended.
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