Father Figures

(spoiler free)

Whilst both Ed Helms & Owen Wilson are pretty solid casting as funny men, they’ve both been involved in their fair share of hits and misses over the years. Therefore, their casting alone isn’t really enough to bring with it much anticipation for their new comedy, ‘Father Figures’. Like ‘Mamma Mia!’, except with less singing, brothers Peter (Helms) & Kyle (Wilson) set out to discover who their real father is after finding out their mother (Glenn Close) has mislead them their whole lives as to his true identity.

The entire premise for the film is completely absurd. The way in which the brothers find out that they’ve been lied to about their father is so bizarre and it feels like one of the weakest narrative moments, of which there are many, in the whole film. Furthermore, the way in which the string of Close’s ex-lovers just accept her sons as their own with no proof at all only adds to the ridiculous nature of the story. Maybe all this would have been excusable if the comedy was good but unfortunately almost all the gags struggle to land and the combination of this with the odd and poorly executed premise just doesn’t make for an entertaining film. In addition the truly mis-matched cast, showcased on that terrible photo-shopped poster, don’t help. Helms & Wilson are likeable enough in the lead roles and their chemistry is serviceable, it at least comes across as more natural than the range of truly random supporting performers, Christopher Walken’s short appearance as the most unconvincing vet you’ve ever seen being the main offender.

However, just as I was beginning to write off the film completely the narrative takes a turn away from the episodic style quest of the brothers finding their real father and develops into a more stereotypical road trip movie. This deviation from the main plot is so welcome and what comes with it is some genuinely funny sequences almost resulting in a complete one eighty turnaround for the film. The film eventually reverts back to the main plot but never as tiresomely as before. Despite the awkward and ineffective sentiment forced audiences throughout the film the conclusion offers a somewhat different experience. The closing scenes of the film are surprisingly emotional and actually carry a lot of heart. This was completely unexpected considering the majority of the film which had preceded it.

So whilst ‘Father Figures’ gets off to a truly awful start and can’t quite shake it’s underdeveloped plot for some time it does turn things around at it’s last opportunity. It’s comedy comes dangerously close to completely failing but this plot deviation brings with it a more authentic humour that enhances the whole experience. Further exceeding the expectations lowered by the first two thirds of the film is the heartfelt finale that has no right to be as effective as it is. The final third of the film showcased some truly fantastic potential proving that ‘Father Figures’ could have become a really entertaining comedy drama but the laboured and humourless majority halt it from doing so. Although, at least it leaves audiences with the best it has to offer providing an endlessly more positive feeling than you’ll ever expect was possible.

Written by Hamish Calvert

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Rating – 5/10

Question: Which comedy performer do you think has the best film track record?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)

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