Home > Chicago Movies > Movie Review > When Did You Last See Your Father?

With his father Arthur (Jim Broadbent) on his deathbed, Blake (Colin Firth) struggles with his pent-up resentment of the man and reflects on his childhood. That is, the time when Dad was a deceptively charming yet conniving attention hog who showed little concern for the feelings of his wife and children. Matthew Beard and Bradley Johnson play Blake as a teen and pre-teen.

Big question: Is this drama, based on Blake Morrison's book about his childhood and directed by Anand Tucker ("Shopgirl"), anything more than a weepy attempt to capitalize on Father's Day?

Skip it: Odd for a film that's likely to draw a mostly female audience to show so little of the women's perspective, since Blake's mom, sister and housekeeper (his first love) are just sideline characters. This is all about Blake: his first beer, his first driving lesson, the first time he caught Dad cheating. Without a firmer grasp on the lasting impact of Blake's memories, however, "Father" merely uses the presence of death as a stand-in for depth.

Catch it: To see a graceful, delicate handling of Arthur's passing ... that's then blown with a big, swirling emotional money shot minutes later. It's another indication that intrusive style can cheapen even the most meaningful sentiments.

Bottom line: The best moments of "Father" show the joy on young Blake's face when he's really bonding with his dad—and the loneliness the boy feels when he thinks he's on the outside of his dad's private life. It's well acted and better than the similarly structured "Evening" but far too committed to its rigid literary foundations.

Bonus: Arthur cleverly holds up a stethoscope and shouts, "I'm a doctor," so he can pass by a line of traffic, even if there's no accident to attend to. Please use this trick only for emergencies, and, no, bathroom emergencies don't count.

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