“About My Father” — released Memorial Day weekend — is another case in point for not watching trailers. Co-written by stand-up comic Sebastian Maniscalco, and co-starring Robert De Niro (who’s done this role before), I honestly expected to be annoyed. I love Maniscalco’s comedy, but I wasn’t up for a “Meet the Parents” redux. However, along with co-Writer Austen Earl, Maniscalco has here penned a wildly funny story about fathers and sons, along with some unexpected tugs at the heartstrings along the way.
What works best about “About My Father” is it makes no bones about the fact that it’s primarily a laugh-cannon raunch-fest, and doesn’t pretend to be anything but. It sets up a situation (Sebastian and his father, Salvo — De Niro — get invited to the exceedingly rich summer home of Sebastian’s girlfriend in order for Sebastian to make a good impression and propose) and just lets it fly. It certainly sounds like the setup for the aforementioned “Meet the Parents” or possibly even “Wedding Crashers” — but it’s not. Somehow the cast and Director Laura Terruso produce something that has charm and laughs where it should have only had cringe.
A Cast that Makes a Winning Argument
Another unexpected finding of the movie is that Maniscalco can write. Growing up on a host of Rodney Dangerfield comedies (“Back to School” is still one of my all-time favorite comedies), I expected “About My Father” to be a vehicle for Maniscalco’s comedy and nothing more. And, of course, there are a few jokes that are Maniscalco doing what he does best (sarcastic observations underneath hilarious facial gestures), but there’s also more. There’s a really likable portrayal of a father and son who stick together despite being divided by the years… there’s a honest and wholesome relationship between Sebastian and his girlfriend (Leslie Bibb)… and there’s a whole host of uber-rich family members that the film could have laughed at but instead laughs with. This film is many things, but cynical is not one of them.
And then there’s the fact that Terruso’s film exists in an ever-vanishing (or shunned) sub-category of modern cinema that begs people to just watch and be happy. It would have been so easy for “About My Father” to be just another in a long line of satirical take-downs of the rich — but there’s none of that here. It’s a laugh-a-minute comedy that also makes a strong case for keeping families together, and none of the players are really bad people, just flawed. “About My Father’s” winning argument is that that’s okay.
A Comedy Full of Laughs — but not Cynicism
The performances are mostly great, and even the ones that are just there for filler are honestly okay. Maniscalco is hysterical — as always — and watching him and De Niro trade insults for most of the film’s run-time just works. And when they trade camaraderie, it can be even better. Bibb plays well too, and you can tell the screenplay took the time to write an authentic relationship whose characters actually care about each other instead of just an on-paper, forced romance. The rest of the cast — from Kim Cattrall, David Rasche, Brett Dier, and Anders Holm are all fine, and make up a lot of the film’s comedy from background antics and shenanigans.
There’s also the fact that in Maniscalco’s hands, the film’s slapstick moments don’t irritate as much as they make you laugh. Sure, a scene where Sebastian’s bathing suit comes off while jet skiing — or another where Salvo cooks the family’s pet peacock are a bit silly, but they mean well. A sequence where Sebastian and dad rip on the rich family’s taste in their bedroom is funny without being meanly-insulting, and even the film’s scenes involving Brett Dier — who plays a hippie wannabe — are well-meaning. If you go into “About My Father” expecting any degree of seriousness in these situations, you’ve simply bought tickets to the wrong movie. But under it all there’s a contagious charm; and the way that Maniscalco subverts the guy-chases-girl ending scene — by instead chasing his father — is a beautifully sweet scene amongst a film full of pratfalls and goofs.
A Fun Memorial Weekend Romp
Reading critic reception of this film, I can only shake my head. 33%?? These people have forgotten what it’s like to go to a film to simply enjoy it. That can be enough; that can be okay. Among a sea of cringe-worthy comedies that have come and gone (“Step Brothers” and “Movie 43” the worst offenders), I don’t know what it takes for a comedy to get a pass anymore. Maniscalco’s “About My Father” is predictable, raunchy, chaotic… but then unexpectedly sweet. Its closing scene is perfect and warm, and the film’s take-a-ways on keeping family together were a welcome change from super artsy films clamoring for attention amidst Marvel Box Office takedowns. If you want to feel better about life — and laugh while doing it — “About My Father” is a rewarding way to spend your time at the theater.
“About My Father” is currently only available to watch in theaters.
