‘I Love My Dad’ Review: A Father Catfishes His Son

In his comedy, his writing and his social media presence, Patton Oswalt proves that nerdiness needn’t be a social legal responsibility. However in his most memorable display roles — his disturbed, obsessive sports activities follower in “Large Fan” (2009), his withdrawn, bodily challenged model-maker in “Younger Grownup” (2011) — he digs deep into the darker coronary heart of dorkiness, if you’ll. His work in “I Love My Dad,” which received the viewers award and the narrative function award at this yr’s South by Southwest Movie Competition, is equally dedicated, and, the place it may be, acute. Too dangerous the efficiency isn’t in a greater film.

Whereas Oswalt’s character, Chuck, is a reliable gamer and enjoys singing Remedy songs at karaoke bars, his main trait isn’t nerdiness a lot as neediness. A pathological liar and an typically absentee dad who has been letting his son, Franklin, down for many years, he nonetheless insists on connection.

Franklin, now in his 20s and performed by the film’s writer-director, James Morosoni, has not been thriving. A keep in a vaguely sketched restoration facility spurs him to sever dangerous relationships. So he blocks his dad on social media.

This sends Chuck right into a panic. In a diner he encounters Becca (Claudia Sulewski), a younger waitress. Chuck invents a brand new social media account for her, via which he catfishes his lonely son, who instantly takes a liking to her.

All the uncomfortable eventualities you may presumably think about then ensue. In actual life, being defrauded on this manner is, one presumes, exhilarating. No less than in the course of the interval wherein you’re falling for the con. After which, after all, it’s excruciating in hindsight. For the reason that viewers is in on the scheme from the beginning, what we get is excruciating, uncut. However not too excruciating, as a result of Franklin is such a colorless cipher it’s laborious to work up a lot empathy for him.

The ostensibly comedic highlights embrace pictures of Oswalt and Morosoni sloppily open-mouthed kissing. This, you see, contrasts the fantasy Franklin’s experiencing towards the fact of what could be taking place if … nicely, you get the concept. The rest of the film is a look forward to the opposite narrative shoe to drop. After it does, a totally inconceivable coda reminds us, as soon as once more, that in showbiz, it’s all about hope.

That is the second indulgent and unaffecting daddy-issue film of the summer time — the primary was “My Useless Dad.” One prays that there won’t be a 3rd.

I Love My Dad
Rated R for language, themes, inappropriate sloppy kissing. Working time: 1 hour 36 minutes. In theaters.