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Fathers' Day

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Fathers' Day (1997)

May. 09,1997
|
5.3
|
PG-13
| Comedy Family
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A woman cons two old boyfriends into searching for her runaway son by convincing both that they are the boy's father.

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SpuffyWeb
1997/05/09

Sadly Over-hyped

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Listonixio
1997/05/10

Fresh and Exciting

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FuzzyTagz
1997/05/11

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

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Mathilde the Guild
1997/05/12

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

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animausimages
1997/05/13

1997's "Fathers' Day", directed by Ivan Reitman. Starring Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Natassja Kinski, Julia Louis Dreyfuss, and Charlie Hofheimer. In "FD", Billy Crystal plays a twice divorced lawyer (now married to Dreyfuss), approached by an old flame (Kinski) who tells him that her teenage son is missing after a fight with her partner (Greenwood). The catch? Crystal's the father. Crystal then hits the road to find the son he's never met before, prepared only with a photograph. We then meet the Robin Williams character, playing a manic depressive writer who's attempt to commit suicide is interrupted by Kinski's reaching out to him. She also tells Williams that he is the father, and Williams strikes out on the road as well. It doesn't take long for Crystal and Williams to connect along the way, and figure out their predicament. The manic depressive Williams is inspired by the life affirming news (even if it's not true), and Crystal comes along, either by curiosity or contractual necessity. Further complicating matters, Greenwood also hits the road in search of his step son.Filmed in 1997, the film feels at least a decade dated, both in concept and it's fading stars' charisma (and mullet hair). While it may at times resemble a hackneyed version of 1988's superior "Midnight Run", it's closer in spirit to "Plan 9 from Outer Space" and "Weekend at Bernie's". The only thing about the film that does feel relevant for it's respective time, is the awkward corporate synergy between the movie's characters and the band, Sugar Ray. Not once, but twice, do we get to see the two hit wonder in concert action, not counting the backstage scene. To boost this premise, we also get a mime appearance, as well as a bizarre Mel Gibson cameo. For a comedy, "FD" is devoid of laughs, and the home run gags, such as a comatose teenager being cleaned in the shower while both the person on the phone and a nosy bellhop confuse what is going on with pedophilia and swinging, don't just fall short- they keel over in a an explosion of dumpster fire dust.It's shocking that Williams appeared here in the same year that he won an Oscar for his work on "Good Will Hunting". There is an awkward scene where he does his signature rapid fire impressions, but the rest of the movie he wavers between shrill hysteria and insecurity that made my skin crawl. And that's before you contrast his character with the man who would ultimately take his life in 2014. There's also very little chemistry between him and Crystal, with Williams' mental instability poorly meshing with Crystal's bizarrely miscast tough Type A personality phoniness, as they both become son smitten. Greenwood's presence in the film is a shame too, with him appearing in the superior "The Sweet Hereafter" the same year as well. Here, his character is an afterthought, confined to the comedy hell of being tipped in an outhouse, before just abandoning his search for his step child. Perhaps worst of all, Hofheimer's teenager character isn't wayward and developing- he's a sociopathic creep- though in his defence he's much like his mother who has no problem lying to the 2 main characters that she uses as volunteer bounty hunters by lying about their paternity. Crystal sees through the charade and explains how great it is- but it's not. Sounds like the movie itself. This Father's Day, it would be best to watch… anything else.

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FilmBuff1994
1997/05/14

Fathers Day is a good movie with a well written storyline and a fantastic comedic cast.The movie certainly could have been a lot better,Robin Williams and Billy Crystal were already a big comedic dou before this came out and it is a bit of a disappointment if you're a fan of both actors.Crystal and Williams are certainly the highlight however,you can feel the chemistry and the friendship between both of then the minute they meet,and the scenes where they clearly get to improvise their lines are of course the best.Its a very average comedy and certainly had much more potential but sadly didn't deliver as well as it could have,but Fathers Day is an enjoyable movie that packs in many laughs and I would recommend it as a short and sweet film if you ever see it on television. A woman convinces two men to go looking for her son by telling both of them they're the father. Best Performance: Robin Williams Worst Performance: Dennis Burkley

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elshikh4
1997/05/15

Let us see. The scene where (Williams) was trying so many "father" characters in front of a mirror, preparing for meeting his teen kid for the first time. Another one where he was personating a German producer. And a glimpse of (Crystal) as serious actor. Other than that, forget this movie, or simply, you'll do effortlessly ! Knowing that it's based on French movie leads to the fact that it isn't original. However watching it is what leads to the fact that it isn't funny! The script relies on just the presence of the 2 stars for the half of it, and makes easy toilet humor for the other. So it was between empty and disgusting. Seeing a moving human toilet (Williams at one point), or someone trapped in one (Greenwood in another) is what this movie considers as funny, and doesn't stop doing without any fear of repetition. As you see, this comedy has no talent and no conscience either !Gathering 2 comedy rockets like (Robin Williams) and (Billy Crystal) in one movie is a great idea, this movie isn't. That neurotic actor was interesting character, but (Williams) had no actual situations or workable lines to do. That firm lawyer was supposed to be the very rational fretful opposite, which was disappointing knowing that it was played by (Crystal). The thing is he had no funny stuff, and his seriousness wasn't utilized in a funny way (unless you think that using his head to hit people is funny !). (Nastassja Kinski) and (Bruce Greenwood), naturally cameos, were imprisoned in that empty and disgusting script. (Mel Gibson), most probably was coming across the studio while shooting, did an awful cameo. Again, the writing sucked there. The only one who was handled right things and did them rightly was the son. He undoubtedly was that lost, confused and desperate teen. Director (Ivan Reitman) does wonders with only creative scripts (remember Ghostbusters), so here's one movie he won't be proud of. As for the American movies based on French ones, long list during the 1980s and 1990s, this axiomatically remains in the bottom. And as a buddy comedy, other buddy comedies produced in the same year, from (Men in Black) to (Out to Sea), were more amusing and – sure – less gross! So the good side of (Fathers' Day) doesn't exceed "seeing" (Williams) and (Crystal) together in one movie. It has nothing to it script, and nothing in it feel. For the million time : Hollywood, in the last 2 decades, as if has everything except "the writing". Big tragedy that is, which you can live the most through the comedies.

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GrantCAGE
1997/05/16

Great cast, great laughs. A genuinely daft movie but with loads of fun too. I thought that Robin Williams played a very good part and was particularly funny, and Crystal too. Some parts of the film do tend to be slightly iffy such as the storyline (you can't help but thinking "I have seen all this done before somewhere.") However, if you don't want to be shocked at something new and original in a movie, watch this and simply laugh. Great fun all round. 7/10

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