When Sebastian tells his old-school Italian immigrant father Salvo that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, Salvo insists on crashing a weekend with her tony parents.
Chuck says:
Much like his stand-up routine, there’s nothing subtle about Sebastian Maniscalco’s “About My Father.” Also like his act, only about half of the jokes in this semi-autobiographical movie land. Still, when they do, the laughs they generate are sincere and heartfelt as beneath this streamlined comedy is a loving tribute to the comedian’s father. Of course, having Robert DeNiro in the title role certainly helps, as the screen veteran helps sell the material with a deft touch.
Running a brisk 89 minutes, director Laura Terruso wastes little time dispensing with the hefty amount of exposition in Maniscalco and Austen Earl’s screenplay. Quickly we’re filled in on the family history, Sebastian recounting how his ancestors immigrated from Sicily to Chicago and that like every Italian father, Salvo’s (De Niro) only purpose in life is to give his son more opportunities than he ever had. Having established himself as a hairdresser with his own salon, the life he’s built for his family is one to be proud of. However, having recently lost his wife, Salvo is feeling vulnerable, something that’s exacerbated by Sebastian’s intention to propose to his longtime girlfriend, Ellie (Leslie Bibb).
Things come to a head when father and son are invited to the home of Ellie’s parents, a posh Virginia residence that reflects their one percenter sensibility. The film kicks into high gear once this culture clash premise is introduced. When Salvo’s working-class hero isn’t mocking the entitled at every turn, he’s embarrassing his son with displays of his Italian pride and heritage, all of it done with a subtle touch of arrogance. Moments, such as an agonizing sequence in a posh country club in which he insists on paying for his and Sebastian’s dinner, despite their hosts, Ellie’s parents Bill and Tigger (David Rasche and Kim Cattrall) insisting they’ll treat, work because of the grain of truth they contain.
Some of the bits – a ham-fisted allusion to “Goodfellas,” Salvo’s making of an “authentic” Italian meal – are too obvious to work, while Ellie’s brothers, Lucky and Doug (Anders Holm and Brett Dier), are so over-the-top, their appearances prove more irritating than comic. However, De Niro dominates in each scene he’s in, employing a far more subtle, humane touch here than in the previous comedies he’s tackled. Though its moments of slapstick and broad humor are being used to promote it, it’s the heart the veteran actor brings to his character that makes “Father” a slightly above average time-filler.
