With his comedy, writing, and social media presence, Patton Oswalt proves that geeks don’t have to be socially responsible. But his most memorable film roles — the disturbed obsessive sports follower in “Big Fun” (2009) and his introverted and physically handicapped character in “Young Adults” (2011). In Model Maker — he delves deep into the dark heart of stupidity. If you do not mind. His work on “I Love My Dad,” which won the Audience Award and Best Narrative Feature at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival, is equally committed and somewhat perceptive. It’s a shame it’s not in a good movie.
Oswalt’s character, Chuck, is a capable gamer who enjoys singing Cure songs in karaoke bars, but his main trait is being needy rather than nerdy. Despite being a pathological liar and an absentee father who has let his son Franklin down for decades, he insists on the connection.
Franklin, now in his twenties and played by James Morosoni, the film’s writer and director, is not making it. A stay at a vaguely sketched recovery facility prompts him to sever toxic relationships. So he blocked his father on social media.
This causes Chuck to panic. At the diner, he meets Becca (Claudia Slevski), a young waitress. Chuck created her new social media account for her, through which he catfished his lone son, who immediately took a liking to her.
Every imaginable unpleasant scenario follows. In real life, cheating like this is supposed to be exhilarating. At least for the duration of the scam. And of course, in hindsight it’s excruciating. Audiences are on board with the plot from the beginning, so what we get is excruciatingly uncut.
Ostensibly comical highlights include a shot of Oswalt and Morosoni sloppily kissing open-mouthed. This contrasts the illusion Franklin is experiencing with the reality of what would happen if…well, you got the idea. The rest of the movie is just waiting for the shoes of the other stories to drop. .
This is Summer’s second extravagant, no-impact papa-published film. The first movie was “My Dead Dad”. I hope it doesn’t happen a third time.
i love daddy
R-rated for language, theme, and inappropriate and sloppy kissing. Running time: 1 hour 36 minutes. at the theater.
