Prepare to ugly cry, even it takes an age to get there.
A dramatic journey of miscalculated judgement, to repression, to discovery for a father and his somewhat estranged son bonding again albeit temporarily, under false pretences, that may just make their family connection a whole lot worse if the unbelievable truth is revealed.
Well intentioned lies spiral out of control for Chuck (Patton Oswald) a divorced dad repeatedly unable to be earnest or inevitably honest towards his jittery son Franklin (James Morosini a triple threat as star, writer, director) who thinks a lovely girl has befriended him online.
Sadly, deception is elevated when Franklin asks his divorced dad on a road-trip to meet Becca, the girl of his dreams, who knows nothing about it.
Chuck has manufactured a catfish using a waitress at his local diner as bait.
As you can imagine things eventually get messy and downright inconceivable, this is a felony at the very least whilst triggering for Franklin’s unstable mental health.
There’re some interesting scenes with Patton Oswalt discomfortingly real, his chemistry with young auteur Morosi works when things are happy, however, in multiple emotional stanzas it is hard to take pity on either, one is using the other at any given time for their inherent benefit.
Rare comedy relief is scattered throughout, mostly lightening up proceedings.
Immaculate waitress Becca (Claudia Sulewski) is understandably not happy when revealed being an avatar for Chuck or set up in no uncertain terms.
It may have worked a treat within a festival circuit, James Morosini is an obvious force of future film, although this movie is hard to grasp, you want to just go with it, but often edgy, embarrassing, frightening at times premise is bewildering.
An engaging I Love My Dad, may just divide viewers in more ways than one creating discussion points on the couch as end credits roll.
★★ 1/2
Comedy | USA, 2022 | 15 | Digital Download | 23rd January 2023 (UK) | Plaion Pictures | Dir. James Morosini | Patton Oswalt, James Morosini, Claudia Sulewski, Lil Rel Howery, Rachel Dratch
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