"Family Is Everything"
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What You Need To Know:
ABOUT MY FATHER has some funny moments. Sebastian Maniscalco, Robert DeNiro and Leslie Bibb deliver fun, lively performances, as does the rest of the cast. The movie’s pro-family vibe says, “Family isn’t just one important thing; it’s everything.” Eventually, family love and respect carry the day. However, ABOUT MY FATHER has some off-color comedy about body parts. For example, Sebastian loses his swimming trunks when he’s playing with a water-propelled jetpack. The movie also has about 33 obscenities and profanities. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises strong or extreme caution for mature viewers.
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ABOUT MY FATHER stars popular standup comic Sebastian Maniscalco as a Hilton hotel manager who takes his old-school Sicilian father, played by Robert DeNiro, for a July Fourth holiday at the summer home of the son’s future wealthy WASPish in-laws. ABOUT MY FATHER has some funny moments and stresses the importance of family, but there are some off-color innuendoes and about 33 obscenities and profanities that warrant strong caution for mature viewers.
Sebastian pretty much plays the stand-up character he’s developed over the years and uses his own name for his character. Sebastian is a successful hotel manager in Chicago for the Hilton chain of hotels. He’s in love with Ellie, the daughter of a man who owns a rival chain of hotels. Her mother is a Senator from Maryland.
The movie begins with Sebastian discussing his family’s roots back in Sicily. His father, Salvo, left Sicily for America 50 years ago and opened up his own hair salon shop. His father is old school and sometimes embarrasses Sebastian.
Ellie invites Sebastian to spend the July Fourth weekend holiday at her family’s summer home. Sebastian believes the weekend is the right time and the right place to propose marriage to Ellie. However, his father won’t let him use his grandmother’s engagement ring until he can look Ellie’s parents in the eye.
Reluctantly, Sebastian takes his father along on the trip. Sure enough, his father embarrasses him right away with his comments and disapproving looks, but it’s actually Sebastian who really embarrasses himself in the beginning. Eventually, the strains of the weekend comically affect everyone.
ABOUT MY FATHER has some funny moments. Sebastian Maniscalco enlivens the story with his trademark expressions and comical mannerisms. Robert DeNiro does comical versions of the disapproving looks he gave his fellow mobsters in GOODFELLOWS when they began to flaunt their newfound wealth after they committed the Lufthansa airport heist. Leslie Bibb lends lots of energy to her role as the comic hero’s girlfriend. The rest of the cast also does a good job.
The movie’s premise centers on a motto from Sebastian’s father, “Family is not one important thing; it’s everything.” In the movie, both Sebastian and his girlfriend, Ellie, are exasperated by their parents. Ellie’s parents treat her like a fragile princess and won’t let her achieve things on her own. Meanwhile, Sebastian’s father doesn’t coddle him at all and expresses himself in a frank, tell-it-like-it-is, ethnic manner that Sebastian finds embarrassing. Eventually, however, family love carries the day.
That said, ABOUT MY FATHER has some off-color comedy about body parts. For example, Sebastian loses his swimming trunks when he’s playing with a water-propelled jetpack that lifts him off the ocean. The movie also has about 33 obscenities and profanities, including three strong profanities. In addition, Sebastian and Ellie are living together in Chicago, though the movie has no sex scenes. Finally, Ellie’s youngest brother is a little New Agey, in a flakey manner designed to elicit some laughs. For example, he meditates while getting a “sound bath.”
So, overall, ABOUT MY FATHER warrants strong and extreme caution for its rude humor and foul language.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
