Flashback Friday: World's Greatest Dad (2009)

By: Kameron McBride

This is our first test of the Flashback Friday Time Machine so we aren't going to push it too hard and just go back to the year 2009 and revisit the very underrated "World's Greatest Dad."

Is it better to be remembered for what you truthfully did in life? Or is it better to paint over the bad spots and instead remember us for what is best for the living? These question form the moral crux of "World's Greatest Dad."

Williams, trying to put on a good face in "World's Greatest Dad"

"World's Greatest Dad" tells the story of Lance (Robin Williams), a high school English teacher who can't publish a book, has a son named Kyle (Daryl Sabara) who would rather watch hardcore pornography than have a relationship with his father and has what could optimistically be described as an up and down relationship with another teacher named Claire (Alexie Morgan).

Lance tries to reach out to his son time and time again but can't seem to crack his exterior. This builds until one night—after returning from Claire's house—Lance discovers his son has asphyxiated himself and died while masturbating. Rather than humiliate his son—and himself—Lance decides to cover up the incident and writes Kyle a suicide note and pretends Kyle killed himself.

Suddenly everyone is interested in Lance through Kyle. Students flood his class to find out information, Claire takes new found interest in him and Lance finds himself in a position of influence. Many of the students take Kyle's suicide note to heart and decide to change their lives based on his—supposed—words. Lance now finds himself caught in the position where people's lives have been improved by Kyle's fake suicide. His lie has somehow made things better for people so what is the next course of action? Tell the truth? Or continue to lie in the hopes that it truly helps people?

This is what is so interesting about "World's Greatest Dad." Kyle is portrayed as a mean–spirited perverted person before he died and yet Lance is able to erase that merely by repainting him in death. He's repaired Kyle's image and even helped other people lead improved lives, so why do we feel so bad about what Lance is doing?

Lance with Claire and Kyle in "World's Greatest Dad"

While watching the movie I think the question ran through my head a dozen times and I could never come to a clear conclusion. Obviously Lance shouldn't martyr his own son but his initial intentions were to help avoid Kyle being humiliated and if the action continues to seemingly help people then should Lance stop?

"World's Greatest Dad" does well to not provide a clear answer to this and mixes in a good blend of dark comedy and genuine emotion to drive him the plot. The overall arc of the story is well put together with Lance's predicament growing to higher levels as Kyle's death gains even more attention, eventually even placing Lance on a "Oprah–"esque talk show.

Williams is very good as Lance, his performance is restrained and yet likeable. His character constantly gaining our sympathies despite how pathetic and meek he can be at times. I think Lance shows Williams at his best and allows him to carry the movie fully, giving an interesting backbone for the rest of the plot to follow.

On a side note: the ending is very curious to me. On one hand I think it sidesteps some of the questions that are built into the plot while on the other I think the film ends the only way this story really could and while it isn't totally realistic, it's at least a good way to wrap up this story.

There are some problems with this movie. Also the script occasionally relies a little too heavy on archetypes—particularly with the high school students—but it at least molds these archetypes well with the rest of the story. The movie could also maybe ratchet up the tension on Lance a little bit in the middle but for the most part it really gives us an interesting look at a father placed in an impossible situation.

If you have a chance, I would definitely check this movie out, it's short and runs very fast. In fact, it's even free to stream for Netflix subscribers. It's not the most uplifting stuff and not even the greatest film but it is interesting and sticks with you for a couple of days after the fact.