A Silly, Surprisingly Enjoyable Father of the Year on Netflix
David Spade and Nat Faxon star in the newest Netflix Original Film, the comedy Father of the Year. Expectedly silly, but surprisingly enjoyable, Father of the Year tells the stories of various relationships—friendships, romantic relationships, and, most endearingly, father-son relationships. Directed by Tyler Spindel (Deported), Father of the Year is an entertaining, funny, and surprisingly heart-warming film.
After graduating as valedictorian from his local college, Ben (Joey Bragg of The Outfield and TV’s Liv and Maddie) comes back to his small hometown, where his dad still resides, for the two weeks that he has in-between graduation and starting his new job in New York. Ben hopes to pass the time quickly by hanging out with his high school buddies and avoiding his dad, whom Ben views as the world’s biggest screw-up.
One night while out with his buddies for some drinks, Ben and his best friend, Larry (Matt Shively of Paranormal Activity 4 and TV’s The Real O’Neals), get into an argument over who would win if their two fathers were to get into a fistfight with one another. Despite having no admiration for his dad in any other capacity, Ben feels that his dad, Wayne (David Spade of Joe Dirt and Grown Ups) would surely beat Larry’s dad because he is scrappy and he has experience fighting. Larry, despite knowing that his dad is an all-around wimp, believes that his dad, Mardy (Nat Faxon of The Way, Way Back and The Descendants), would win because of a story his dad tells about a time he once knocked out a criminal.
Without thinking it through, Ben offhandedly tells Wayne about the argument that he and Larry had. Given his natural tendency to do the wrong thing, Wayne takes it far more seriously than either of the boys ever intended for it to be taken. In a drunken stupor one night, Wayne decides to show up at Mardy’s house to fight him and prove to Ben that he’s worth something.
Caught off guard when Wayne shows up unexpectedly at his front door, Mardy panics and runs from Wayne as their sons chase after them, attempting to stop the madness. Eventually, Wayne and Ben crash through a window, landing on and destroying a neighbor’s greenhouse. Wayne and Ben are arrested, charges are filed, and Ben basically sees his once well-planned future begin to crumble. Rightfully, Ben blames his dad for his troubles as he struggles with his new reality.
David Spade’s New Hampshire accent is off the mark and many of the film’s antics are ridiculous and over-the-top, but somehow still it all works. Father of the Year shines most brightly when allowing the relationships of the various friends and family within the film’s premise to be at the forefront. There is actual heart beneath the various layers of silly antics and it all ties together to make for a surprisingly enjoyable film.
In Addition
New to HBO in July is the limited series Sharp Objects starring Amy Adams (Arrival and Enchanted). Anticipated to be one of the best new television series of the summer, Sharp Objects is a psychological thriller based on author Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, a new Netflix Original romantic comedy, begins streaming Friday, Aug. 17. Starring Lana Condor (Patriots Day and X-Men: Apocalypse), To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is about a young woman who writes love letters to all of her past crushes and who is eventually forced to confront each of them.
Also new to Netflix beginning Friday, Aug. 17 is Season One of Matt Groening’s first Netflix project Disenchantment. The animated series looks similar in comedy and style to Groening’s ever popular series The Simpsons and Futurama.