FATHER'S DAY (1997)

Directed By: Ivan Reitman Written By: Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel Based on the film “Les Comperes” written by: Francis Verber Cinematography By: Stephen h. Burum Editor: Sheldon Kahn & Wendy Greene Bricmont CAST: Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Nastassja Kinski, Julia Louise-Dreyfus, Bruce Greenwood, Haylie Johnson, Mark McGrath, Charles Rocket, Jared Harris, Louis Lombardi, Patti D’Arbanville, Ricky Harris, Dana Gould, This film is like a big screen version of the 80’s sitcom MY TWO DAD’S. Except with a son instead of a daughter and the mother of the child still being alive. Yet it’s a remake The script as much as there is one seems like a extra long episode of the previously mentioned show. Such is the strength of the writing and the jokes. This film is just lazy. It seems like the thought was bring in two big name comedians, Throw a thin story around them and let’s see what happens. I would expect better from the talent involved. Not only in front of the camera but behind it also. Ivan Reitman is a talented Producer/ Director behind many a classic comedy, Starring comedic heavyweights. So he knows how to handle talent and bring the best out of them. Here it seems like he just let Billy Crystal and Robin Williams off the leash and let them make it up as they went along. It brung out the least in them. I understand probably because the script was weak, Reitman probably encouraged them to improv as much as they can, To make the material sparkle. The problem is that this film plays like a comedy improve session with different locations, good production values and good camera placement. I wish I could say that the actors look like they are having fun but Billy Crystal looks angry and uncomfortable and comes of as smug smartass instead of witty. It leaves Williams all over the place like a emotional tazmanian devil. The film is about 2 ex best friends who 16 years ago messed around with the same woman. Now her child has run away. So she seeks out both of them separately to tell them that they are the father of the child and convinces them to find him and get him back. In there separate travels to find the kid. They end up running into each other and decide to team up to find the kid, Who has runaway with his girlfriend to follow the band SUGAR RAY. The film tries to distract the audience wit a all star cast (At the time anyway) That comes off as desperate and condescending. GRADE: F