Fraternal twins Kyle and Peter Reynolds are the very definition of opposites, but their one mutual link is unlocking the identity of their absentee father, and so goes the plot of the 2017 comedy “Father Figures.”
Paying roles seemingly perfect for each are Owen Wilson and Ed Helms as the Reynolds twins. Both men are top stars in the comedic genre, and here, both deliver laughs as we all expect. While the writing of Justin Malen has the characters dispersing their typical brand of humor, the night and day contrast between the two is what makes the story fun to witness.
Peter Reynolds (Helms) is a single father with an overly routine and thoroughly dry life. We see him in his job as a proctologist, hearing the patients cracking the same jokes on a daily basis, dining with his teenage son who is far more consumed with his smartphone than conversation with his dad, and giving up completely on the possibility of love or dating following his divorce. “My life is basically crap right now,” Peter says at one point, and the viewer would be hard pressed to disagree.
Meanwhile, we meet Kyle Reynolds (Wilson) explaining his unusual route to being a millionaire. “Life is so crazy. One minute you’re napping in Maui, unemployed, uneducated, thirty bucks to your name.” I won’t hint at the rest, but needless to say it displays his enviable and carefree life, and how it pans in comparison to that of his hard working brother.
Peter’s lifelong obsession with finding out who his father is, with scant clues offered by promiscuous mother (Glenn close) he and Kyle embark on a journey to locate and meet their father, with potential candidates ranging from football star Terry Bradshaw, to the always great Christopher Walken and JK Simmons.
“Father Figures” has its funny moments – an early scene on board a plane displays the great and hysterical rapport between Wilson and Helms, as well as the luck versus work motif and theme.
The story would have been better served had the script focused more on the two brothers. Together they are great, but the interactions with the various father candidates and the search itself runs a bit dry.
“Father Figures” is an okay movie. Its funny enough at times, and if you like Wilson and/or Helms’ brand of humor, its worth giving a shot. Don’t expect an all time great comedy.
by – Matt DeCristo
