'World's Greatest Dad' review

Alexie Gilmore and Robin Williams (Credit: Magnolia)

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High school English teacher and aspiring writer Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) is a kind man. His 15-year-old son Kyle (Daryl Sabara), on the other hand, is a creepy jerk who claims everything is either "retarded" or "gay." After Kyle dies in embarrassing fashion, Dad twists the truth and turns his son, possibly the least-liked kid in school, into a beloved martyr—even inspiring one student to wear a shirt asking WWKD?

The buzz: Written and directed by actor Bobcat Goldthwait, "World's Greatest Dad" promisingly indulges a dark streak that most high school-set comedies don't. (Wait, all teens don't act like the ones in "High School Musical"?) Williams is also usually better in stuff with an edge, so this foul-mouthed black comedy could be a pleasant surprise.

The verdict: In life and in movies, the last few minutes are sometimes the most important. What begins as a hilarious and even poignant look at the rift between adults and teenagers is totally undone by its ending, which comes out of nowhere and negates the question of whether a lie is justified if it improves circumstances for everyone in the long run. (Goldthwait also damages his satire by giving previously careless students legitimate reason to be inspired by Kyle.) Williams, however, is in top form, funny and endearing as a good guy who simply tried to live the legit way and realized that strategy wasn't working out.

Did you know? When Lance wants his son to shape up in front of his dad's colleague/girlfriend (Alexie Gilmore), he tells Kyle, "If you don't act right at dinner I'll stab you in the face." Honesty really is the best policy in parenting.

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