My past two blog posts have focused on two Netflix original movies (sci-fi thrillers “Extinction” and “How It Ends”).
What I like about Netflix’s content strategy is that the streaming giant produces the sort of movies you’d pick up at Blockbuster Video on Friday and Saturday nights back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
The movies might not be high art, but they are fun way to wind down after a busy week.
Point in case is the new comedy movie “Like Father” (starring Kristen Bell, Kelsey Grammer, and Seth Rogen).
“Like Father” is a frothy comedy that tells the story of Rachel Hamilton (Kristen Bell) — a workaholic ad exec who is jilted at the altar by fiancé Owen (Jon Foster) after he discovers she made work-related calls mere moments before walking down the aisle (her phone is hidden in the bouquet).
Her father Harry (Kelsey Grammer) makes a surprise appearance at the ceremony. He has been largely absent from Rachel’s life.
In the aftermath of the wedding fiasco, Harry and Rachel reunite (much to the chagrin of the spurned bride).
After an evening of heavy drinking — and awkward bonding — father and daughter indadvertently end up on Rachel’s scheduled honeymoon cruise together.
Suddenly, the hungover pair finds themselves captive on a Royal Caribbean ship — having to navigate their estranged relationship and the foibles that entails.
It’s a decent setup to a likable story written and directed by Lauren Miller Rogen (Seth’s wife).
It might not be the most original territory, but Bell and Grammer both do a good job with the material, and have good chemistry together.
Bell has experience playing these sorts of aloof characters (she is particularly good at it on the fable-like comedy series “The Good Place”).
Grammer is really the glue that holds the story together. Harry’s self-effacing manner helps create a likable vibe — and a nice counterpoint to Rachel.
Along for the ride is a cast of quirky couples (tablemates during the duration of the cruise) for our duo to interact with.
Seth Rogen plays Jeff (who makes a point of mentioning he is from Edmonton, AB, in Canada), an overly-sincere passenger whose wife recently left him. Upon a meeting at a ship bar, Rachel suggests they “hang out...(and) live in the present.”
One of the more interesting aspects of “Like Father” is that the movie itself plays like an advertisement for Royal Caribbean Cruises (much of the movie was shot on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship).
I don’t know if this was an intentional product placement or not, but the movie makes a Royal Caribbean cruise seem totally legit.
(One interesting tidbit — back in the early 2000s my wife and I did marketing work for The Cruise Company here in Omaha, but never once had the opportunity to go on a cruise...which just seems wrong.)
“Like Father” is one of the more enjoyable original Netflix comedy movies I’ve seen. It has a likable cast, occasionally tugs at the heartstrings, and offers some fun laughs.
Recommended.
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