World's Greatest Dad (2009/I)

Director:

Bobcat Goldthwait

Writer (WGA):

Bobcat Goldthwait (written by)

Release Date:

24 September 2010 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Lance Clayton is about to get everything he deserves.

Plot:

When his son's body is found in a humiliating accident, a lonely high school teacher inadvertently attracts an overwhelming amount of community and media attention after covering up the truth with a phony suicide note.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Dating | High School | Poetry | Phony Suicide Note

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Lance
Daryl Sabara	...	Kyle
Morgan Murphy	...	Morgan
Naomi Glick	...	Ginger
Dan Spencer	...	Dan Spencer
Geoff Pierson	...	Principal Anderson
Henry Simmons	...	Mike Lane
Zach Sanchez	...	Peter
Alexie Gilmore	...	Claire
Evan Martin	...	Andrew
Ellie Jameson	...	Jennifer
Michael Thomas Moore	...	Chris (as Michael Moore)
Ray Mist	...	Metal Kid (as Alles Mist)
Jermaine Williams	...	Jason
Lorraine Nicholson	...	Heather
Mitzi McCall	...	Bonnie
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	...	Nosy Neighbor
Cheri Minns	...	Nosy Neighbor
Zazu	...	Nosy Neighbor
Tony V.	...	Dr. Pentola
Krist Novoselic	...	Newsstand Vendor
Mable Mae	...	Mabel
Zoe	...	The Fighting Pug
Tom Kenny	...	Jerry Klein
Jill Talley	...	Make-Up Woman
Toby Huss	...	Bert Green
Deborah Horne	...	Dr. Dana
Bruce Hornsby	...	Bruce Hornsby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Anderson	...	News Crew - Boom Holder (uncredited)
Danielle Barnum	...	Fantasy Girl (uncredited)
Heidi Barrientes	...	Fantasy Girl (uncredited)
Wayne Bastrup	...	TV Crew Member (uncredited)
Constance Best	...	Bookstore Fan (uncredited)
Breighana Campion	...	Student / Girl Reading newspaper (uncredited)
Brittany Christine	...	Fantasy Girl (uncredited)
Julian Curelop	...	Student (uncredited)
Bobcat Goldthwait	...	Chaffeur (uncredited)
Brandii R. Grace	...	Student (uncredited)
Anne Sheridan Kennedy	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Richard Kilpatrick	...	Student (uncredited)
John Misner	...	Book Publisher (uncredited)
Crystal Rainbow Mort	...	Student (uncredited)
T.J. Newton	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Melissa Pang	...	Beautiful LA Person (uncredited)
Andra Petru	...	Fantasy girl (uncredited)
Richard Scott	...	Basketball Player (uncredited)
Mara Stevë	...	Low Income Housing Person (uncredited)
Peter Weinstein	...	Publisher (uncredited)

Directed by
Bobcat Goldthwait

Writing credits (WGA)
Bobcat Goldthwait		(written by)

Produced by
Sarah de Sa Rego	....	co-producer
Howard Gertler	....	producer
Ted Hamm	....	executive producer (as Edward H. Hamm Jr.)
Richard Kelly	....	producer
Sean McKittrick	....	producer
Tim Perell	....	producer
Jennifer Roth	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gerald Brunskill

Cinematography by
Horacio Marquínez

Film Editing by
Jason Stewart

Casting by
Ruth Lambert
Robert McGee

Production Design by
John Paino

Set Decoration by
Rachel M. Thompson

Costume Design by
Sarah de Sa Rego

Makeup Department
Danyale Cook	....	makeup artist
Akemi Hart	....	key hair stylist
Cheri Minns	....	hair stylist: Mr. Williams
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist: Mr. Williams
Jennifer Popochock	....	hair stylist
Jennifer Popochock	....	makeup artist
Jennifer Popochock	....	special makeup effects artist
Dawn Tunnell	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Zita Mazzola	....	production supervisor
Matthew Shapiro	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mariela Comitini	....	first assistant director
Sebastian Mazzola	....	second second assistant director
Trish 'The Dish' Stanard	....	key second assistant director

Art Department
Brady J. Condit	....	on-set dresser
Jeffrey W. Crow	....	set dresser
Lisa De Alva	....	property mistress
Andrea Dupras	....	art department coordinator
Vincent Ferris	....	property assistant
Cdavid Hall-cottrill	....	property master: on-set
Robert Kramer	....	art department intern
Oscar Lofgren	....	carpenter
Kenneth Milfred	....	leadman
Shefskie Paba	....	carpenter
Beth Peterson	....	painter
Kevin L. Raper	....	graphic artist
Christopher Scott	....	art department intern
Ed Vance	....	set dresser
Nick Worsfold	....	greensman

Sound Department
Dan L. Brock	....	sound
Lisa K. Fowle	....	sound designer
Andy Hay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Samuel Lehmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Lyles	....	adr mixer
David Marcus	....	director of sound services
Robert Marts	....	production sound mixer
Harrison Meyle	....	dialogue editor
Jeffrey A. Pitts	....	sound effects editor
Vance Walden	....	adr recordist
Scott Waters	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Ian T. Barbella	....	visual effects coordinator
Shane Cook	....	compositing supervisor: Gradient FX
Dylan Highsmith	....	visual effects editor
Christopher Ide	....	post production assistant
Mark Kolpack	....	visual effects producer
Olcun Tan	....	executive effects producer: Gradient Effects
Thomas Tannenberger	....	executive effects producer: Gradient Effects
Cameron Thomas	....	compositor: Gradient FX
Bob Froehlig	....	lead systems engineer: Gradient Effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Tim Henderson	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Michael Hilow	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark L. Anderson	....	first assistant camera
Mark L. Anderson	....	underwater camera operator
Garrett Cantrell	....	grip
Mark J. Coyne	....	Steadicam operator
Brianne Cronkhite	....	second assistant camera
Will Emery	....	camera loader
Bruce Henderson	....	dolly grip
Neil Holcomb	....	gaffer
Mexico Jacobson	....	best boy grip
Ludovic Littee	....	assistant camera
Paul Mailman	....	b camera operator
Theresa Majeres	....	grip
Ryan Middleton	....	grip
Chris Purkiss	....	electrician
Phil Rezek	....	lighting technician
David Robinson	....	set lighting technician
Jeremiah Skender	....	electrician
Gregory D. Smith	....	key grip
Bryan 'fro' Waters	....	grip
Bob Webeck	....	b camera operator
Coty James	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Denise Gibbs	....	casting: seattle

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nikki Bartnick	....	costumer: Mr. Williams (as Nikki Paulson)
Teresa Purkiss	....	costumer (as Teresa Hill)

Editorial Department
Paul Bronkar	....	digital intermediate colorist
Christine Carr	....	digital intermediate producer
Stacy Katzman	....	assistant editor
Mark Kolpack	....	digital intermediate producer

Music Department
Z. Berg	....	vocalist
Mike Bolger	....	musician: trumpet and trombone
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Annabelle de Leon	....	vocalist
David Marcus	....	musician: guitar
Colleen Stewart	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Grady Hughes	....	driver
Ronnie King	....	transportation coordinator
David Nugent	....	driver: Robin Williams
John Petty	....	driver
William Powell	....	driver

Other crew
Blake Alexander	....	accounting intern
Steve Berman	....	completion bond
Constance Best	....	extras assistant
Devin Z. Clarke	....	location intern
John 'JR' Craigmile	....	post accounting
Jeff Culotta	....	production executive
Dave Drummond	....	assistant location manager
Morgan Elizabeth	....	extras assistant
Kimbette Fenol	....	assistant: Richard Kelly
Cynthia Garcia Walker	....	production accountant (as Cynthia Walker)
Denise Gibbs	....	extras coordinator
Zachary Gordon	....	production assistant
Aurore Guyot	....	assistant to the producer
Lindsey Johnson	....	assistant production office coordinator
Ilona Síkhegyi Kelly	....	location production assistant
Uyen Le	....	production legal
Traci Martin	....	first assistant accountant
Viki Parker-Crays	....	second assistant accountant (as Viki Parker)
Merritt Riley	....	production assistant
Stephen Robinson	....	assistant to producer
Stephen Robinson	....	assistant to the producer
Ryn Rulison	....	production assistant
Kyle Seago	....	production assistant
Matthew Shapiro	....	production associate
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Paul Tennis	....	production staff
Joey Vea	....	production assistant
Robert S. Wilhelm Jr.	....	production assistant
Mark Wygant	....	location manager
Jacob Leander	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Jimmy Kimmel	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Magnolia Pictures (presents)
• Darko Entertainment (presents)
• Process Productions
• Jerkschool Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Magnolia Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Midget Entertainment (2010) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Odeon (2010) (Greece) (DVD)
• P.F.A. Films (2010) (Italy) (DVD)
• Teleview International (2009) (Lebanon) (TV) (Middle East)
• VVS Films (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Video Film Express (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• WoWow (2012) (Japan) (TV)
• Works UK Distribution, The (2010) (Ireland) (all media)
• Works UK Distribution, The (2010) (UK) (all media)

Special Effects

• Gradient Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cinetic Media  financing and distribution advisory services
• Dragonfly Sound  sound post-production
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Gradient Effects  post-production (DI)
• Gradient Effects  vfx & di
• IndieClear  script clearance
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• PES Payroll  payroll services
• Spank Machine  sound re-recording
• Studio Trucks  transportation
• Underscore Media  sound post-production
• Wow & Flutter  sound post-production
• Wow & Flutter  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, crude and sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45434) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA | UK:15 | Ireland:16

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

Magnolia Pictures

Trivia:

Director Bobcat Goldthwait and actor Geoff Pierson (who plays the principal) starred together in the television series "Unhappily Ever After" in 1995.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the very beginning of the movie, when Lance drives his red Volvo, the gear shift is set to neutral position, so the car is actually towed on truck.

Quotes:

Andrew:You know what's strange about the book?
Lance Clayton:What?
Andrew:Kyle never talks about vaginas, anal sex, fisting, felching, or rimjobs.
Lance Clayton:Yeah, it is a little light in the felching area, you're right. But I think it's there, Andrew, in its own way.

Movie Connections:

References Cabaret (1972)

Soundtrack:

I Hope I Become a Ghost

It's never easy being a parent

Suburbia has transformed from an innocent place with friendly neighbors to a world full of miserable, sometimes disturbed people, dreams deferred, and earth-shattering secrets. From this year's Sundance Film Festival we have Bobcat Goldthwait's dark comedy World's Greatest Dad, we delve once again into the unknown of Any Town, USA.

This film mainly takes place in a school setting, but the themes and conflicts that arise coincide with those found in other films about suburbia. Robin Williams stars as struggling writer Lance Clayton. He lives with his son Kyle (Daryl Sabara), a porn obsessed, perverted teenager who attends the private school Lance teaches a not-so-popular poetry elective. There is tough love between the two. It's a typical teenager vs. the parent relationship only the censors have been turned off.

Lance is dating another teacher on staff, Claire (Alexie Gillmore), who he suspects isn't totally committed to their relationship. Life isn't getting any easier for Lance who struggles to reach his students or find a publisher for his work. When things couldn't get any worse, Lance suffers a blow few could recover from. From tragedy comes opportunity and it is up to Lance to decide what is the right thing to do.

It would be wrong of me to give away the tragedy, but it is something that does occur in Any Town, USA. In fact it happened not too long ago just a town over from me. It's the first time I can think of it being used in a film, or at least of this magnitude. There are several times during the film that I felt uncomfortable, but not to the point of disgust. There are some pretty heavy issues handled here and I think it is tasteful.

Williams does a fine job, especially in the second half of the film. For a comedian I can imagine it being difficult to change emotionally like that, but Williams has proved time after time in films like Good Will Hunting, One Hour Photo, and Insomniac that he can play just about any role thrown at him. He has a presence that is very real and powerful.

I was surprised by Sabara's performance as Kyle. I had only seen him in Spy Kids so I really didn't know what to expect. He seemed to have a clear idea of who Kyle was and what is motives are.

Goldthwait, who also wrote the screenplay, tackles a lot of issues both for adults and teenagers. At first I thought the film was going to end up like last years Towelhead, a hodgepodge of issues and conflicts that are each could have been their own film, but here we have an even dosage of each, culminating to a great finale and realization by William's character.

The film isn't perfect. One thing I don't like films to do is talk about other films. I feel like it is only a way for the writer to show off his movie knowledge and personal views about certain movies, although one segment involving zombie movies is relevant to the story. Occasionally it can be beneficial. Some of the scenes were a bit overdone with cheesy, overused dialogue, and some of the deliveries felt like they were just saying their lines and not really connecting with them.

Overall I was impressed. Goldthwait is not a big time filmmaker but this is certainly a step in the right direction (he has acted in several films and worked on other projects behind the camera). Williams gives one of his better performances as of late, but he doesn't steal the show. I thought the story was good enough to stand on its own, which is a very good thing. I hope this film doesn't get completely overlooked this year. You should try to see this one if you can.