Robin Williams gives a wonderfully nuanced performance in this touching and poignant serio-comedy as Lance Clayton, a dreamer who has been forced to learn how to settle and compromise.
For years, he has wished to be rich and famous writer, but has only managed to make it as a high school poetry teacher.
Lance’s only son Kyle (Daryl Sabara), an insensitive jackass, is dating Claire (Alexie Gilmore), the school’s art teacher, but she doesn’t want to get serious, let alone admit in public that they are dating.
After a freak accident, Lance suffers the worst tragedy and greatest opportunity of his life. He is suddenly faced with the possibility of all the fame, fortune and popularity he ever dreamed of, if he can only live with the knowledge of how he got there.
A former comic himself, writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait has made a surprisingly clever and twisted dark comedy, which offers Williams one of the richest roles in his long and distinguished career.
Running time: 99 minutes.
Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait
Released by Magnolia August 21, 2009