Dad’s living nightmare
From left: James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Zoey Deutch
Parents do their utmost to bring up their kids in a nurturing cocoon of love, encouragement and safety, so that they can have the best possible prospects as young adults.
Confoundingly, however, their best efforts are sometimes foiled by the people their children eventually fall in love with, who don’t just exploit them and break their hearts, but treat them like dirt, to boot. What’s a parent to do?!
The dad in the new film, “Why Him?,” shouts, screams and protests a lot—but there’s little he can do to stop his beloved daughter-princess (Zoey Deutch) from falling like a ton of bricks for her undeserving lover (James Franco).
Truth to tell, the guy has some decidedly plus and “plush” factors going for him, like his being the billionaire owner of a video game enterprise.
Despite these obvious perks, he turns his girlfriend’s family off big-time because he’s loud, vulgar, covered with tattoos and acts out all of his impulses, many of which are shamelessly sensual—and even sexual.
Right off the bat, therefore, his girlfriend’s dad (Bryan Cranston) regards him as a living nightmare who’ll do his beloved daughter absolutely no good. So, he embarks on a determined campaign to knock sense into her love-addled brain—before it’s too late!
Naturally, Franco’s freaky character does his best to prove Cranston’s crusty screen persona dead-wrong, but it’s a ferocious battle all the way.
Some of the mano-a-mano battles tend to be predictable and thus heavy instead of loopy and effervescent. But Cranston’s curmudgeonly crusty portrayal gifts the entire production with a solid spine that enables it to sail and fly through occasional rough spots with feisty command and panache.
It’s a joy to see Cranston slay viewers not just on TV (“Breaking Bad,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Seinfeld”) but on the big screen, as well. His in-your-face characterizations are memorable and appreciated wherever and whenever we can savor them!
Aside from Cranston, Franco and Deutch, other “Why Him?” cast members turn in crisp and colorful supporting performances. Even Megan Mullally as Cranston’s submissive wife has a surprise in store for viewers:
In one memorable sequence, her heretofore laid-back and conservative character is affected by Franco’s counterculture vibe and the seductive substances associated with it, and gets sensually turned on—to great comedic effect.
But the film’s best thespic find is teen actor Griffin Gluck, who plays Deutch’s kid brother with impressive creativity, confidence and fun.
Right off the bat, he “gets” where Franco’s character is coming from, and precociously clues into his online gaming vibe so well that he could end up taking over the online gaming outfit’s top post!
Young Gluck turns in such a precociously savvy and winning portrayal that we’re sure we’ll be seeing more of him in movie seasons to come. Some teen thespic finds have all the—Gluck!
