REVIEW: FATHERHOOD

3.5/5

Father Time.

109 Mins. Starring: Kevin Hart, Melody Hurd, Alfre Woodard, Lil Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, Frankie R. Faison & Paul Reiser. Director: Paul Weitz.

Here's to all the fathers. Mine, yours, theirs. Him. Biological. Step. Our father. The ones we love and the ones we lost. Here's to them. Let's raise a glass and toast...cheers! This Fathers Day weekend, the Daddy of all streaming services Netflix is getting in on the father time act too with comedian and 'Ride Along' and 'Jumanji' franchise star Kevin Hart, following his 'No F###s Given' quarantined stand-up at home for something that is anything but a joke. But when s### happens. Nappy s### that is. Going for three like Ben Simmons. THEN that s### is funny. Based on the bestselling, moving memoir 'Two Kisses For Maddy: A Memoir Of Love and Loss' by Matthew Logelin those two kisses are from Daddy on behalf of Mummy who tragically died after the pregnancy. Now with real heart Hart and his new career redefining movie take some lovely liberties to show black fathers in a positive light against tired and racist stereotypes. Making this a love letter wrapped up in a Fathers Day card and nod to all the Girl Dad's like the dearly departed Kobe and GiGi who we miss every day a year after the tragedy in 2020. Originally meant to be released in theatres for Sony before COVID hit, after the pandemic Netflix brought this dramedy for your home systems, because really right now, even in opening up we've learned that's truly where the heart is. "I ain't leaving here" Hart said in his Netflix home movie special last year after getting "the 'vid" and the other virus of Twitter trolling and out for career blood and bones like vultures, cancel culture. 

So, of course, we need to talk about Kevin. Let me explain. A mere few years ago Hart was attacking everything, cooking like his 'Central Intelligence' co-star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. You got it? Cool! He even had a surprise (sorry) cameo in the 'Fast and Furious' spin-off 'Hobbs and Shaw' like Ryan Reynolds (sorry again) meaning this franchise starter has more under the hood. His stand-ups were like big budget blockbusters, but 'What Now'? The 'Irresponsible' actor was dropped as an Oscar host after some tweets about throwing a doll house and then boy did the backlash come like toys out a pram (but Ellen is OK to host right? At least she defended him. 'I Can't Make This Up' like his book). He was being crucified for the same sort of comedy his contemporaries like Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock do just as much and hilariously...all in the name of comic relief, not offence. What would the world make of Bill Hicks these days? Let alone Bill Burr as legendary Billy Crystal replaced Hart. Sure there are some comedians that should be cancelled (sorry Louis C.K., but you had your day), but the rest should be allowed to have their cars and coffee like Jerry Seinfeld...not to mention their brick oven pizza's. 4 cheeses. 4 CHEEESES. BOP! BOP! BOP! Hart was right there with Rock and Chappelle chasing Pryor before critics convictions. Now from now on everything he does is all 'Don't F### This Up' like his Netflix series which details all of this. But did we miss his 'Black History' life lessons that really matters? Standing next to his characters wife's coffin as he tries to string together the words that would do her justice through all Hart's hurt. All he can manage to say is, "this sucks." But this movie or man does anything but. Showing more than just the dramatic chops that earned him 'The Upside' with Bryan Cranston (although Hollywood never needs to remake classic like this French film 'The Intouchables' starring none other than 'Lupin' himself Omar Sy being thieved). The emotion he brings to both the love and loss here is earned. Heartbreaking and heartfelt, Hart is a revelation. Watch him break down and gather himself together to turn grief into giving all he has for his daughter just like he does to his kids in real life then you can see just how far this man will go to show he'll never fall. No matter how many people try to back him up against the wall. This is the push back. Just when you thought he didn't have it like that. Hart is back! 

'Dad Stop Embarrassing Me' may be the name of a cancelled comedy on Netflix (why though? This Jamie Foxx show reminded fondly of family sitcoms of old), but here Hart doesn't mind making a fool of himself for his daughter. But not when he makes a sister act congregation feel ashamed of themselves when they won't stand for his girl wearing trousers as she pleases. His reaction will leave you flossing in celebration for fortnights. There's nothing embarrassing about that moment. Just moving. The only ones who should be embarrassed are the penguins waddling around in tired traditions. As for the real star of this show, Melody Hurd steals it, ya heard? In perfect family harmony with Hart for this daddy/daughter day. It's Academy, Grammy and EIGHTEEN Emmy award nominated (she's taken home four) actress Alfre Woodard who really steps it up however looking for her next. The Golden Globe and three time Screen Actors Guild winner who is also a political activist plays a grieving grandmother who has to deal with both her granddaughter being miles away and that she has lost her own baby too with punctuated perfection of performance. Nuanced and not clichéd in any way, the 'Hill Street Blues', 'Luke Cage' and new 'Lion King' star earns every moment of screen-time as putting the tough love clamps on Kevin she makes him prove worthy of every responsibility. This will go down as one of the greatest hits for the 17th of the New York Times 25 Greatest Actors of the 25th Century. Add always funny 'Judas and the Black Messiah', 'Uncle Drew' and 'Get Out' actor Lil Rel "T. S. Motherf#####g A." Howery and 'Barry' and 'Gotham's' own Anthony Carrigan (it's strange to see an assassin play it so friendly) as Kevin's two best friends and Netflix's own Nola Darling from Spike Lee's 'She's Gotta Have It' spin-off series remake DeWanda Wise (always on fire and truly wise) as our leading man's leading lady and there's even more heart for Hart. But it's legendary father time actors Frankie R. Faison ('The Wire' and every Hannibal movie in the Hopkins trilogy) with soul and Paul Reiser ('My Two Dads' and all those 'Beverly Hills Cops') as the big boss who really bring it home. Making this the perfect film for pops holiday from 'About A Boy' and 'American Pie' director Paul Weitz giving us a slice of life with this big daddy of a movie about a girl. This real and raw comedy and tragedy of love and loss really deserves your two kisses. Happy Fathers Day. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Big Daddy', 'Gifted', 'Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!'