I Love My Dad
MAGNOLIAWith a more serious tone and a few tweaks, James Morosini’s I Love My Dad could have been called “The Unforgiveable.” Based on a real life incident from the writer-director-star’s personal life, the seed of the project began when he asked himself, “How far could something like this go?”
To state the obvious: yes, Morosini was catfished by his father during a period of estrangement between them. However, what makes the film so intriguing is that instead of strictly showing things from his point of view, it centers on the well-meaning but compulsive duplicity of his parent, played by comedian Patton Oswalt. I Love My Dad begins with Chuck (Oswalt) failing to get a hold of his son Franklin (Morosini) through telephone calls, then realising he has been blocked from his social media. It’s obvious that this hurts him deeply, but it isn’t long before he is indulging in what alienated him from his son in the first place: lying. He acts and he acts fast, creating a fake Facebook profile for a girl named Becca (Claudia Sulewski) to entice his son into having conversations with him. It works. And that’s where the trouble begins. All that Chuck wants is to be close to his son again, but he hasn’t thought that far ahead. It isn’t long before Franklin is falling in love with his new friend without knowing she is, in actuality, his father.
To say things only get worse is an understatement. I Love My Dad walks a fine line between being heartfelt and excruciating, especially when the stakes are high. Franklin has just survived a suicide attempt, so Chuck fears that telling him the truth might push him into another tailspin. He also doesn’t want to lose the only way he can keep in touch with him or get permanently cut out of his life.
Does that make for fantastic comedy? Surprisingly it does, especially considering what is taking place. As Chuck’s co-worker Jimmy (Lil Rel Howery) puts it: “This is incest.” Each scene ups the ante in alternately funny, uncomfortable and disturbing ways; sometimes all of the above. It becomes clear why Franklin has cut Chuck out of his life to begin with. It also becomes clear that this prolonged charade will inevitably go down in flames – it’s not so much a matter of when, but how.
What makes the film notable is how it eludes expectations and creates a checkmate that seems realistic and deserved – considering how chess figures into the plot, this might not be coincidental. This is only Morosini’s second featured film, but the writing is well paced and assured, and his decision to translate texts between Franklin and “Becca” into actual conversations brings their squeamish romance to life, both for better and for worse. As the scenes cut between a smitten Franklin and his clueless, scrambling father, it’s clear that they’re experiencing two completely different realities.
The lead performances are what ultimately sell the film. While Morosini nails the insecure and closed-off Franklin, the film is shouldered by one of Oswalt’s best performances. He brings an unexpected pathos to his character, creating someone that is both likable and despicable. Chuck is constantly in discomfort, sweating as he keeps compulsively lying and involving people in his deceit, including his on-again, off-again girlfriend Erica (Rachel Dratch). Caring causes him to do terrible things, all while reassuring himself that the end justifies the means. Oswalt has managed to surprise audiences before, particularly with his acerbic supporting turn in Jason Reitman’s Young Adult and a particularly tricky and heartbreaking performance as the lead in Robert D. Siegel’s Big Fan. His familiarity to audiences and background in comedy helps buffer the proceedings from the embarrassment, disgust, and rage directed at him. He couldn’t have been cast better.
I Love My Dad is a stark reminder that dishonesty can be the quickest route to something you want, but it’s an act of cowardice. Although it can take you far, you never end up where you should be. The betrayal at the root of Morsini’s real-life experiences has been put to good use, and what makes it special is its sympathetic point of view. He explains it best: “The idea of making this movie was really stepping into my dad’s shoes and trying to understand our relationship from his perspective… to see if I could really take a walk in his shoes and if I could really empathize with where he was coming from.” It’s not every day that someone manages to spin one of the worst things to happen to them into comedy gold. This film manages to do that and more. It might not be for everyone, but one thing is for sure: those who see it won’t forget it any time soon. It’s by far one of the best comedies of the year.