World's Greatest Dad (2009)

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.

Director:

Bobcat Goldthwait

Writer:

Bobcat Goldthwait

Stars:

Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, Morgan Murphy

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Lance
Daryl Sabara	...	Kyle Clayton
Morgan Murphy	...	Morgan
Naomi Glick	...	Ginger
Dan Spencer	...	Dan Spencer
Geoff Pierson	...	Principal Anderson
Henry Simmons	...	Mike Lane
Zach Sanchez-Vitale	...	Peter (as Zach Sanchez)
Alexie Gilmore	...	Claire Reed
Evan Martin	...	Andrew
Ellyn Jameson	...	Jennifer (as Ellie Jameson)
Michael Thomas Moore	...	Chris (as Michael Moore)
Ray Buckley	...	Metal Kid (as Alles Mist)
Jermaine Williams	...	Jason
Lorraine Nicholson	...	Heather

Storyline

Lance Clayton is a man who has learned to settle. His son, Kyle's an insufferable jerk. Lance is dating Claire, the school's art teacher, but she doesn't want to get serious or even acknowledge publicly they're dating. In the wake of a freak accident, Lance suffers the worst tragedy -- and greatest opportunity of his life. He is suddenly faced with the possibility of all the fame, fortune and popularity he ever dreamed of; if he can only live with the knowledge of how he got it.

---

Plot Keywords:

black comedy | dark comedy | upskirt | single father | high school | 

---

Taglines:

Lance Clayton has: a good job. Lance Clayton has: a great girlfriend. And Lance Clayton has: the world's greatest son.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robin Williams initially intended to take a small role as a favor to writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait, with whom he has been close friends since their days performing stand-up comedy together, but was so impressed with the script that he requested to play the lead instead.

---

Goofs

After Kyle's journal is published, the motivational sign over the blackboard in Mike's classroom reads "Hard work is it's own reward". There is no apostrophe in "its" when it is used as a possessive. Mike teaches creative writing.

---

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.

---

Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Inglourious Basterds/Post Grad/World's Greatest Dad (2009)

---

Soundtracks

Invisible
Written and Performed by Bruce Hornsby
Courtesy of Zappo Productions

User Reviews

Blackly Brilliant

I loved the characterisation of this movie: Robin Williams is one of those actors you have to like. So when, as in this movie, he plays someone who is sweet and kind and weak and crawling through moral quicksand, the resulting conflict you feel has you laughing out loud and wringing your hands with anxiety all at the same time.

The plot is original and comes with a couple of unforgettable twists. The dialogue is sharp, the humour dark. The moral compass is spinning wildly, but it straightens up for us in the end.

There is a quote at the end of the movie that really struck a chord with me.

"I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, but it's not. The worst thing is ending up with people who make you feel all alone."

Brilliant.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 2010 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

World's Greatest Dad

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,675, 23 August 2009

Gross USA:

$221,805

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$221,805

Company Credits

Production Co:

Magnolia Pictures, Darko Entertainment, Process Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1