Fatherhood Review

The latest Netflix original movie comes on the cusp of father days weekend and it is perfect timing to get sentimental about love and loss and the courage it takes to step up.

Matt (Hart) is left to be a single father after his wife suddenly and tragically passes due to a blood clot. Matt must now figure out how to navigate this new world of parenting without the love of his life by his side.

Easily one of the better films Hart has done in recent memory because he sheds that over the top persona we are used to seeing for a more vulnerable role that allows him to show his range. Matt is scared, confused and frustrated while he ponders what is best for his daughter. Hart definitely embodies all aspects of that struggle.

We get to see Maddie as an infant and as a 5 year old girl. There are a few flashbacks of moments that occur to fill in the time gaps and to show us how far Matt and Maddie have come together. At the beginning everyone doubts Matt and near the end he begins to feel the pressure after Maddie has an accident at school. It is easy to sympathize with a character like Matt because he is shown to always be putting his daughter first.

Aside from Hart the rest of the cast is hit and miss. Alfre Woodward plays Marion the mother in law. She has a few moments of tension with Matt that plant seeds of doubt for Matt. Aside from those moments she really does not have a substantial role. Same with Anthony Carrigan and Lil Rey Howery as Matt's friends Oscar and Jordan. It is even mentioned early on that they are oddballs and the rest of the film paints them as such but they become a family for Maddie and love her.

The best scenes in the movie are the tender ones where we see Matt trying his best. It is within the loving and caring relationship with Maddie that we see her strong personality show thanks to Melody Hurd.

It plays the final act fairly safe as Matt begins to realize his job will take him away more and that a potential love life will distract him from his daughter. It plays out rather simply as Matt realizes work will take away memories and he needs to allow himself to be happy. It does not step outside the neatly organized box of ideas for a film of this nature.

Safeguarding the film from the usual Kevin Hart hijinx will likely land it a larger audience over the weekend but it did kind of also feel like the big comedic moments all were featured in the trailer. It is definitely an enjoyable comedy with hints of drama. I would have liked more exploration of the transformative years for a child of 1-3 to see how Matt really coped with not having his wife around. It tries to play it by significant moments but it really takes you out of the single father aspect a little. It would have been nice to have a little more context about how Matt was always the only person whenever something happened to Maddie and how it affected every working and personal relationship he had.

Luckily the cliff notes version of a better movie is still one of the best of Hart's career thus far because when it does go deep it really sells it. The beginning scene at the Hospital and the ending scene at the Hospital really drive home how quickly life can happen. Had the middle act also been heavy on this it could have been the best film of 2021 and I have no issue saying that. What it ends up being is a middle of the road impactful father/daughter dramedy.