Like Father

Name: Like Father
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: August 3, 2018
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Alex Perez, Amber Hodgkiss, Brett Gelman, Brian McCarthy, Brittany Ross

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Ratings

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5.2

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5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Ratings

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Like Father

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): August 3, 2018 | TV-MA

Starring: Alex Perez, Amber Hodgkiss, Brett Gelman, Brian McCarthy, Brittany Ross, Danielle Davenport, Ejyp Johnson, Elisabeth Ness, Jen Zaborowski, Jon Foster, Kelsey Grammer, Kimiko Glenn, Kristen Bell, Lenny Jacobson, Olivia Oguma, Paul W. Downs, Ralph Adriel Johnson, Seth Rogen, Wynter Kullman, Zach Appelman

Summary: When a workaholic young executive (Kristen Bell), is left at the altar, she ends up on her Caribbean honeymoon cruise with the last person she ever expected: her estranged and equally workaholic father (Kelsey Grammer). The two depart as strangers, but over the course of a few adventures, a couple of umbrella-clad cocktails and a whole lotWhen a workaholic young executive (Kristen Bell), is left at the altar, she ends up on her Caribbean honeymoon cruise with the last person she ever expected: her estranged and equally workaholic father (Kelsey Grammer). The two depart as strangers, but over the course of a few adventures, a couple of umbrella-clad cocktails and a whole lot of soul-searching, they return with a renewed appreciation for family and life.… Expand

Director: Lauren Miller

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Leah Greenblatt

Aug 2, 2018

The movie’s arc is too conventional by half, but the appeal of the two main actors keeps it (sorry) afloat, maybe more than it should. Read full review

Caroline Siede

Aug 3, 2018

Like Father is confidently shot and showcases some lovely Caribbean scenery, but Rogen’s biggest strength as a writer/director is her masterful understanding of tone. She’s crafted a genuinely moving father/daughter dramedy in what feels like a heightened studio comedy. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Aug 7, 2018

Bell and Grammer are wonderful playing off one another. Funny when the moment calls for funny, authentic and believable when the moment calls for substantive drama. Read full review

John Anderson

Aug 7, 2018

Luckily, there are jokes, like little lifeboats, floating all around, rescuing “Like Father” from anything resembling gravity. Read full review

Matt Fowler

Aug 4, 2018

I'm not sure who first had the idea to fit a father/daughter drama into a rom-com casing but the result is very weird and very unfulfilling. Tonal whiplash is the least of Like Father's problems though as it basically furthers the messaging that Netflix likes to have talented people make unexceptional films. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Aug 2, 2018

As much a commercial for Royal Caribbean cruises as it is a dramedy about a bumpy daughter-dad reunion, Like Father swamps its workable emotional core and adept lead turns with some slapdash plotting and a raft of floating festivities. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Aug 3, 2018

So, if you like piña coladas, or movies in which severe childhood trauma can be hugged out on an ocean cruise, then you’ll like Like Father. For everyone else, skip the imitation and seek out “Toni Erdmann” instead. Read full review

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User Reviews

Pinkpantsnsalt

Aug 28, 2020

I grew up watching Kelsey Grammar as the lovable and strange psychiatrist dispensing life lessons as a patron of Cheers. I followed his character, Frazier Crane, move to Seattle to host a radio talk show and navigate life there with his brother and live-in father. I’ll admit, FrazierI grew up watching Kelsey Grammar as the lovable and strange psychiatrist dispensing life lessons as a patron of Cheers. I followed his character, Frazier Crane, move to Seattle to host a radio talk show and navigate life there with his brother and live-in father. I’ll admit, Frazier influenced me like an uncle, so I was curious how he would show up in the Netflix movie Like Father.

Playing the role of Harold in this movie, Grammar is joined by Kristen Bell, his estranged, and successful daughter cast as Rachael. The film quickly, and thankfully, navigates the unoriginal bride-left-at-the-alter set-up into the main event; a honey moon cruise that turns into a reconciliation tour. A week long tour that ends on shore in a perfectly unfinished moment. The cast of characters that shape this tale are mostly other honeymooners assigned as ‘table-mates’ for the cruise. The stereo-typed mix of personalities make for a delightful, if not predictable set of scenes. Directed by Laura Rogen, who also wrote the screen play, the film extracts enough out of each character to move the main event along without sidetracking the viewer. The main event, of course, is the unwinding of both Harold and Rachael as individuals and as a father-daughter duo which leads to an eventual moment of reconciliation.

There is drama, laughter, suspense, and the seemingly mandatory Netflix make-the-audience-cringe scene; a mini-tryst between Rachael and a Canadian teacher (Seth Rogan) is simply gross. Sorry Laura, but Seth does not measure up to Kristen Bell on screen, or off. The films leaves the audience feeling good, yet unfinished. There is the expected reconciliation, and first wave of forgiveness between Harold and Racheal, but not a definitive end. When Harold and Rachael join together to sing a rendition of Come Sail Away by Styx, you believe It caps off a journey and a cruise that brought them together again. But this well crafted movie offers one more voyage to a final scene that ends with a memorable embrace. Reminiscent of an episode of Frasier, or a rant from Dr. Crane on Cheers, the movie shares a simple lesson; Love can be shared, without being spoken. ~ PinkPants and Salt… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spaulding1980

Dec 5, 2018

It won't win any Oscars, but it is an entertaining movie. Sure, the plot is predictable and the movie doubles as a cruise commercial, but it is a worthwhile journey. It has more emotional depth than I first thought it would. Kristen Bell is exceptional and Kelsey Grammar is very good.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Deangleason

Aug 27, 2018

I enjoyed this movie. Expected it to be a light-hearted picture without a complicated plotline or complex characters and that is what I got. My wife described it as almost a Hallmark movie - but with a little more profanity!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LegendaryLass

Dec 15, 2018

There's never a plot point or joke the audience isn't ahead of the film by a mile, but Grammer and Bell have excellent chemistry and bring a lot of sweetness to what is essentially an 105-minute Royal Carribean commercial.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Nov 15, 2019

The film does not take advantage of either Kristen Bell or Kelsey Grammer which, together with the predictable plot, fails to do something more interesting or engaging.

A very poor comedy that doesn't go anywhere.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

yerubandi

Jul 5, 2019

i never felt this as a movie, it was more like a very long advertisement for the royal Caribbean cruise. boring movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CameraBounceGod

Aug 10, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. i wanted to watch this with my mom instead she said it was terrible and we started watching out of sight instead...from what i can tell out of sight is a much better movie...so i watched the whole thing(like father) minus the last 3 minutes. it was not funny whatsoever..the funniest thing was that the phone kept working after it got wet...it must be one of those things like Kristen Bells name came up so someone crapped this movie out. it must just be for those strange people out there who like Kristen Bell I feel like even though she was in this crap movie that I don't mind watching her however because shes not blindingly hot...the reason i don't like when hot women get roles for being hot is because i myself cant get anything at all because i'm an ugly..i guess the real shocker is that Seth Rogan had such a small part to play. he essentially was just an extra. im trying to figure out this movie and maybe there is just a ton of girls out there who have daddy issues and need a laid back boring movie to help them feel as though they are being acknowledged.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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