Director: Lawrence Sher
Writer: Justin Malen (Screenplay)
Starring: Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, J.K. Simmons, Katt Williams, Terry Bdrashaw, Ving Rhames, Christopher Walken, Glenn Close
Plot: Upon learning that their mother has been lying to them for years about their allegedly deceased father, two fraternal twin brothers hit the road in order to find him.
Tagline – Are you our daddy?
Runtime: 1 Hour 53 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Basic Comedy
Story: Father Figures starts as twins Kyle (Wilson) and Peter (Helms) are returning home for their mother’s wedding Helen (Close), only on this day, Peter learns that the man he thinks is his father, isn’t the man they thought he was, now the two go in search for their real father, which sees them heading off to meet American Football legend Terry Bradshaw.
Only Terry isn’t their father and the men continue their search to see who their father is, which takes them on a trip around America putting the clues together to who was the man that got their mother pregnant.
Thoughts on Father Figures
Characters – Peter has always lived his life by the book, he is a doctor, been through a divorce going into a closed life spending his free time watch Law and Order until he learns that his father isn’t who he thought he was and he wants answers, he isn’t like his twin brother, he isn’t as free thinking or laidback, he needs everything in order. Kyle got lucky with his money, he has always been a free thinking, lucky in the eyes of Peter, he has always taken life a lot less serious than Peter and joins his brother on learn who their father is. Helen is their mother who has just got married and reveals the truth about their father. Sadly, we don’t spend enough time with all the different potential father’s, each one has their own quirks, though we don’t meet them enough.
Performances – Ed Helms and Owen Wilson don’t seem to have the chemistry that you would imagine their could, they often are better at playing the same role, rather than pushing one into playing a role that doesn’t work to their strengths. We might have a few bigger names in the potential father roles and Glenn Close do well without getting enough screen time to shine.
Story – The story here follows twin brothers that go in search of their real father after learning the story their mother told wasn’t the truth, which sees them bonding and traveling around the country in search for answers. This does have a serious side, it does put the spotlight on who to consider parents, the person that made you or raised you, it shows brothers can stay together even over the worst of times, only it gets covered up with way too many forced jokes which don’t fit the situation the two are going through.
Comedy – The comedy here does feel more forced than anything, it does the basics right, only too many moments seem like they are being forced for an extra moment in the situation.
Settings – The film does take us around America, mostly though different homes which could contain their father.
Scene of the Movie – The Ferrari.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – It did seem to be on repeat with each situation or potential father.
Final Thoughts – This is a simple comedy that doesn’t seem to get enough out of the heart in the film, while not capturing enough of the chemistry required for the two brothers.
Overall: Simple Comedy
