I love a good R rated comedy, but it’s often hard to read a trailer to really know if you are going to get the goods or if all the jokes are wasted in there. The latest, Father Figures that was previously promoted as Bastards, looks as though it has some potential. The film features a great cast including Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, Katt Williams, Glenn Close, J.K. Simmons, Ving Rhames, and Terry Bradshaw, but does it offer up the promised laughs or will it fail to discover the truth?

​

Father Figures follows fraternal twin brothers who find out that their mother has been lying to them for years about their allegedly deceased father. Now these two are setting out on the road in order to find out who their father really is. I so wanted to love every aspect of this movie and while it is a decent movie it fails to fully deliver. The story is pretty simple as advertised, but it’s a story that has clear opportunities for comedy and drama and this film tries to do both. This is where it struggles a bit as it is never fully a comedy or a drama and the balance between is fine just doesn’t allow you to find a place.

​

Ed Helms is toned down this time around as opposed to his usual over the top antics and it actually works to make him stand out in a new different way. Wilson is pretty much playing the same type or role he always does so it works fine. The real stars here are the supporting players of J.K. Simmons, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Terry Bradshaw, and Ving Rhames. They are all great in their moments with Bradshaw offering up the most fun of them all. Even the always great June Squibb pops up for a fun little cameo that brings it all together. The best moments of the entire film for me were those with the always hilarious Katt Williams. His whole sequence worked for me where so many other moments did not. He was given the chance to be his usual quick witted self while somehow having a fresh new persona that I hope we see more of.

​

In the end when the movie is funny it is really funny and when it deals with the drama it works, but it is so unbalanced most of the time that it will likely lose most. It failed to fully live up to the R rating it had and seemed to play it too safe most of the time, but it still entertains on some level. If you are fans of those involved then you might find it fun, just don’t expect the over the top comedy the trailer was promoting.

​

In addition to the film this release features bonus content including deleted scenes and a gag reel. Join in on the search for their dad and grab your copy of  Father Figures available now on Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.