World's Greatest Dad - D

In theaters 8/21/09.

Another HDNET movie premiere, and the worst so far. Actually they've gotten progressively worse. See here, here, and here. Robin Williams plays Lance Clayton, a divorced single father who teaches poetry at the local high school. He always wanted to be a famous (and rich) author, but hasn't been able to get any of his 5 books published. Kyle, his teenage son is a rude pervert (a douchebag, as his own father calls him at one point) who uses internet porn when he isn't throwing misogynist statements around. When Kyle dies (Michael Hutchence style), Lance writes a fake suicide note, pulls his pants up, and moves the body. Then he writes a fake diary that inspires the whole high school and gets the fame he always wanted.

Needless to say, writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait has an impossible time with all the sudden tonal shifts. He rips off Magnolia shamelessly during a montage, and relies on shock words and situations for his comedy. Most movies start off with a good idea and then fail to reach their full potential. This one starts as a disastrous idea that only gets worse with the film's overacting and predictability. Williams is OK until his embarassing breakdown on a faux-Oprah show. Kyle (played by the kid from Spy Kids) is intentionally annoying. Cameos from Goldthwait and Bruce Hornsby don't help. The worst scene ever is near the end, after Lance confesses his many lies in public, then strips to the nude and jumps into the school's pool from a 10 ft. diving board. Thanks for the underwater full frontal male nudity. All the while, the excellent Bowie-Queen collaboration "Under Pressure" plays. Anyone want to see the movie about the dad who uses his son's accidental death to become famous? Anyone? D

For a better use of "Under Pressure", check this out, one of my all-time favorite trailers.