World's Greatest Dad

2009 R 1h 39m Blu-ray / DVD

World's Greatest Dad

2009 R 1h 39m Blu-ray / DVD
  • Overview
  • Details
After his son dies in an awkward freak accident, high school poetry teacher Lance ghostwrites a suicide note to spare the family embarrassment. But when the note becomes an unexpected hit, Lance sees a chance to resurrect his writing career.
Cast
Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, Geoffrey Pierson, Henry Simmons, Mitzi McCall, Evan Martin, Jermaine Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Lorraine Nicholson, Tom Kenny, Toby Huss
Director
Bobcat Goldthwait
Format
Blu-ray DVD
Screen
Widescreen 1.85:1
Subtitles
Spanish (Neutral)
CC
Yes
Audio
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Screen
Widescreen 1.85:1
Subtitles
Spanish (Neutral)
CC
Yes
Audio
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Rating
R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them. R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
age 17+
Common Sense rating OK for kids 17+
age 17+

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that World's Greatest Dad is a very dark comedy about a father who inadvertently profits from his teenage son's accidental death. There's strong language (words like "f--k" and "s--t" are said in nearly every scene), and the sexuality is rampant -- especially in early scenes. The teenage boy is a porn aficionado, and he constantly talks about explicit sexual acts, masturbates to magazines (and other stimuli), and even tries auto-erotic asphyxiation. There's only one actual sex scene, but star Robin Williams' naked body is briefly shown in another scene. In comparison to the sex and language, the movie's violence and substance use are ather mild, although an adult does smoke marijuana and allows an underage friend to eat a pot brownie.

Sexual Content

Most of the sexuality is related to graphic conversations about sexual practices and shots of pornographic magazines. Kyle is shown masturbating several times -- to porn magazines and Web sites and even photos of his dad's girlfriend. Kyle also discusses various sex acts (such as felching, cunnilingus, and German "Scheizer porn") with his best friend, peeps on his middle-aged neighbor as she undresses, and tries auto-erotic asphyxiation. Lance and Claire kiss a few times and eventually have sex, during which Claire makes explicit requests. Lance is briefly shown naked (backside) walking to a pool, and for a second his penis is visible underwater as he swims.

Violence

Two high-school guys get in a fight after one overhears the other saying something "perverted" to a girl. A character dies accidentally in a disturbing, compromising position.

Language

Nearly every scene has very strong language. "F--k," "s--t," and "a--hole" are the most commonly used words, with insults like "fag," "whores," "pervert," "bitch," and "dumb" also said often. Sexual language includes "p---y," "dick," and "freak." "Jesus Christ!" is exclaimed a couple of times.

Social Behavior

Although the movie has a few positive messages about admitting the truth -- even when it's embarrassing -- and how adolescents cover up their true feelings in order to go with the flow, most of the take aways are negative. Kids who abhor a fellow student pretend to have been his friend after he dies and becomes posthumously popular. A shallow woman is torn between two men and seems to choose based on which one is more successful or attractive at any given moment. A frustrated writer fakes another character's suicide and then capitalizes on the cult status of the "suicide note" he writes, profiting from the death.

Consumerism

Only a few brands/products are visible -- a Mini Cooper car, the video game Doom, and New Yorker magazine.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Lance drinks and smokes a joint, which he offers to his neighbor -- who declines but suggests he make pot brownies. In another scene, Lance makes the brownies for her and lets his son's best friend have one, although the teenager doesn't know there's pot in them.

  • Age appropriate
  • Not an issue
  • Depends on your child and your family
  • Parents strongly cautioned
  • Not appropriate for kids of the age

This information for parents is provided by Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving kids' media lives.

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