Comedian Kevin Hart is known for screaming, but a newborn gives him a run for his money in his latest film. Mark Harrington talks about it for this week’s Friday Film Review.
This week’s film is “Fatherhood”, starring Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, DeWanda Wise and Melody Hurd. The Netflix original is based upon a true story of Minnesota native Matt Logelin who wrote the book “Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love” about his experiences as an unprepared dad who loses his wife shortly after the birth of their daughter. Kevin Hart wanted to play Matt in the film because of the universal themes of grief, perseverance, and family but also to create a vehicle to re-define how Black fathers are portrayed in Hollywood. For the most part, Hart absolutely succeeds. “Fatherhood” adeptly brings Matt’s experiences to the big screen including randomly crazy diaper changes, MacGyvering a baby bottle at a basketball game, to making up places where his wife is when asked by strangers. By delivering a milder version of his signature comedic style, Hart turns in perhaps his best dramatic performance with an approach faithful to the original book by maintaining its heartfelt sincerity. Hart’s bombastic style certainly could have taken over, but he allows newcomer Melody Hurd to shine as his daughter Maddie. Add a tremendous supporting cast led by Alfre Woodard as Matt’s mother-in-law and DeWanda Wise as Matt’s new love interest, and “About a Boy” Director Paul Wietz continues his knack for capturing authentic characters who display a contagious blend of humor and emotional integrity. These characters bring a familiarity and broader audience appeal, as evidenced by the film’s immediate popularity propelling it to the top of the Netflix leaderboard. Unfortunately, the film takes the safe route by exaggerating if not completely manufacturing the conflict between Matt and his mother-in-law. In doing so, the film misses a chance to better illustrate the level of support Matt needed to raise Maddie. This change also perpetuates several myths of modern parenthood centered upon “we can do it all if only we put love first, everything else will magically fall into place”. Instead, the film utilizes the hard parts of parenting for the humor and Matt’s relationships after his wife’s death for further narrative appeal. More focus on the trials at home and at work, perhaps comparatively with everyday office and home issues facing today’s working moms, combined with more skillful editing could have elevated “Fatherhood” from a surprise hit for home viewing to a transformative exposure of parenthood in the modern workplace and culture. However, ultimately, the film serves its purpose and ”Fatherhood”is worthy of your at home screen time.
So, on my ski trail rating system, “Fatherhood” earns my intermediate BLUE ski trail rating. Kevin Hart tones down his explosive personality just enough to deliver a heartfelt and touching performance which easily could have overshadowed the story. Despite lackluster pacing and curious editing, the film does well to avoid a level of oversentimentality which easily could have rivalled a Hallmark Channel movie.
“Fatherhood” is rated PG-13 for strong language, and defilement of a basketball backboard.
“Fatherhood” is streaming on Netflix.
This is Mark Harrington for KPCW’s Friday Film Review.
