About My Father

Name: About My Father
Genre: Comedy
Released: May 26, 2023
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 39
Cast: Anders Holm, Brett Dier, David Rasche, Deborah Tucker, Jessie Camacho

2023

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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3.4	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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About My Father

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: May 26, 2023 | PG-13

Starring: Anders Holm, Brett Dier, David Rasche, Deborah Tucker, Jessie Camacho, Kim Cattrall, Laura Ault, Leslie Bibb, Michael Stuart, Robert De Niro, Sebastian Maniscalco

Summary: Sebastian (Sebastian Maniscalco) is encouraged by his fiancée (Leslie Bibb) to bring his immigrant, hairdresser father, Salvo (Robert De Niro), to a weekend get-together with her super-rich and exceedingly eccentric family (Kim Cattrall, Anders Holm, Brett Dier, David Rasche). The weekend develops into what can only be described as aSebastian (Sebastian Maniscalco) is encouraged by his fiancée (Leslie Bibb) to bring his immigrant, hairdresser father, Salvo (Robert De Niro), to a weekend get-together with her super-rich and exceedingly eccentric family (Kim Cattrall, Anders Holm, Brett Dier, David Rasche). The weekend develops into what can only be described as a culture clash, leaving Sebastian and Salvo to discover that the great thing about family is everything about family.… Expand

Director: Laura Terruso

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 89 min

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Jude Dry

May 24, 2023

Secure in his standing as a marquis comedian, Maniscalco makes movies like a guy with nothing to prove, and his confidence buoys and brightens About My Father. Read full review

Todd Gilchrist

May 24, 2023

Maniscalco hasn’t quite proven he can carry a movie that’s not inspired by or “about” him, but this first effort is charming and earnest enough to encourage viewers to meet him where he’s currently at in his career. Read full review

Thom Ernst

May 30, 2023

Director Laura Terruso overlooks several comedic opportunities in About My Father. It’s as though she’s working from a script that’s been edited by someone who got the situations but not the jokes. Read full review

Frank Scheck

May 24, 2023

The film’s genuine sweetness and affection for its characters go a long way toward compensating for its numbing overfamiliarity. Read full review

Screen Rant Mae Abdulbaki

May 30, 2023

The film’s cast is great and, though the actors typically have great comedic timing, the dialogue falls flat and renders the humor inert. About My Father has a heart at its center, but it never really gets there in terms of having a compelling story and humor to elevate its scenes. Read full review

Kyle Smith

May 25, 2023

The entire film feels like an exceedingly stale stand-up comedy routine, which is to say it’s exactly like one of Mr. Maniscalco’s stand-up comedy routines. Read full review

Mark Kennedy

May 24, 2023

Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco has co-written and stars in this big sloppy Italian American kiss about family that not only leans into stereotypes — working-class Italians on one side, WASPs on the other — but plows the field with them. Read full review

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User Reviews

SquanderReviews

May 30, 2023

"About My Father: A Heartwarming Tale of Acceptance with Memorable Bonds and Missed Opportunities"

Rating: 2.5/5 stars "About My Father" invites audiences into a heartfelt story of a father and son journeying towards acceptance while navigating the complexities of family dynamics and"About My Father: A Heartwarming Tale of Acceptance with Memorable Bonds and Missed Opportunities"

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

"About My Father" invites audiences into a heartfelt story of a father and son journeying towards acceptance while navigating the complexities of family dynamics and impending in-laws. Anchored by the talents of Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert De Niro, the film delivers genuine laughs, surprises, and showcases their acting prowess. However, it also stumbles in certain areas, such as the reliance on clichéd characters and missed opportunities for further exploration.

One of the film's notable strengths lies in the bonds depicted between Robert De Niro and Sebastian Maniscalco's characters. Their on-screen chemistry adds authenticity and depth to their portrayal of a father and son relationship. Their interactions bring both humorous and touching moments to the forefront, highlighting the complexities of familial connections and the journey towards acceptance.

Additionally, "About My Father" succeeds in capturing genuine laughs. The comedic moments hit their mark, delivering humor that is both relatable and entertaining. The comedic talents of Maniscalco and the seasoned performance of De Niro blend seamlessly, resulting in memorable and enjoyable scenes throughout the film.

However, the reliance on clichéd characters, particularly the portrayal of the "dumb brothers," proves to be a letdown. This reliance on familiar tropes detracts from the overall originality of the story, potentially missing opportunities for more nuanced character development. Additionally, the dynamic between the daughter-in-law and her parents could have benefited from further exploration and fleshing out. While present in the narrative, it feels somewhat underdeveloped, leaving viewers wishing for more depth and impact.

One refreshing aspect of "About My Father" is its setting in a small area. This change of pace from grander settings commonly found in films provides a grounded and intimate atmosphere, emphasizing the importance of family connections and the impact of personal relationships.

Overall, "About My Father" is a solid film that showcases Sebastian Maniscalco's acting abilities and Robert De Niro's continued commitment to delivering strong performances… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MattyIce34

May 30, 2023

Simple and familiar, but inoffensive and watchable enough. De Niro looks like he’s at least half trying!

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

JoA1973

Jun 20, 2023

Pretty predictable story and better acting than expected. A few laughs. His dad seems like a good dude, too bad he's honored by such a lackluster movie.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Jun 18, 2023

I will never lose faith in Robert de Niro because of his tremendous cinematic legacy as an actor. That doesn't mean I'll somehow soften my opinion when he delivers films like this one. Since Analyze That I haven't enjoyed any comedy he's starred in, although I can forgive him for films likeI will never lose faith in Robert de Niro because of his tremendous cinematic legacy as an actor. That doesn't mean I'll somehow soften my opinion when he delivers films like this one. Since Analyze That I haven't enjoyed any comedy he's starred in, although I can forgive him for films like Last Vegas and The Intern.
The two Fockers movies were just more of the same.

His chemistry with Sebastian Maniscalco is deficient. He shared more with Zac Efron and that's saying a lot especially when you consider that the comedy is supposed to work between the two of them. About My Father is a comedy that travels down a bumpy road hoping to stumble upon a genuine moment of humor. It never does.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

goodnightoppy

Sep 9, 2023

As soon as I realized the father was played (badly) by DeNiro, I was out. He has to stop making movies. It's embarrassing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nigh5

Jun 3, 2023

The on screen energy is so awkward I felt embarrassed to even chuckle. Nothing felt human, everything was so white washed. It’s like the script was written to be proofed by his actual in-laws to make sure nothing personal nor offensive was said about them. My wife said she was offended as anThe on screen energy is so awkward I felt embarrassed to even chuckle. Nothing felt human, everything was so white washed. It’s like the script was written to be proofed by his actual in-laws to make sure nothing personal nor offensive was said about them. My wife said she was offended as an Italian because nothing about the culture was represented. I love Sebastian Maniscalco’s comedy. I’ve seen him twice on stage, watched all his specials, and read his autobiography, but man the only thing to really say is,

Aren’t you Embarrassed?… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Gumdrop

Jun 17, 2023

De Niro should have retired at least 10 years ago. At least he would have signed off with the legacy of great movies like Taxi Driver, Untouchables and Godfather 2. Instead of stuff like this and Dirty Grandpa. It's hard to believe this is the same actor.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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