Fathers and Sons

There is a far superior summary of this film on this website and it states more about the characterization of each of the three stories than I will attempt. My only interest in this film was to watch Gale Harold, a talented actor who seems to be stalling his career in some of the most obscure indie films with nice concepts but little substance.

Father's and Sons is a painfully slow paced film in which one queries what else is there beyond the middle class whining of families whose daddies didn't give their lives over for their kids -- get over it. Middle class does not entitle boys to the E ticket at Disneyland each and every time. So the father is a disappointment, with son's disappointing as well and their families also a disappointment. Boo-hoo! The characters generate little sympathy or interest.

This is not a deep or even compelling trio of stories, but the actors including a wig-wearing Bradley Whitford (West Wing) and Harold attempt to rise above the mediocre scripts. Made by Showtime, there is a TV quality about the production values. The casting of several unknown actors however, demonstrate equal pairing with stellar TV and stage actors. Unfortunately, it is not sufficient to raise the film beyond the banal level.

Lastly, I wish Gale Harold would do something worthy of his talent. This project, as with many of his film choices does not demonstrate the range which he showed in his stellar guest performances on "Street Time" and briefly the last season of "Deadwood." Disappointing for fans of Harold.