About My Father (2023)

May 25, 2023 (US) • Comedy • 90m

Overview

Encouraged by his girlfriend Ellie, Sebastian and his Italian immigrant father, Salvo, spend the 4th of July weekend with her wealthy and exceedingly eccentric family. The gathering soon develops into a culture clash, allowing father and son to discover the true meaning of family.

Director

Laura Terruso

Writers

Sebastian Maniscalco, Austen Earl

Top Billed

Sebastian Maniscalco

Keywords

chicago, illinois culture clash artist military veteran boyfriend girlfriend relationship semi autobiographical u.s. senator country club woman director eccentric family hairstylist wealth differences rich family father son conflict father son relationship italian immigrant cheerful hotelier

Where to watch

Free / Included

Amazon Prime Video

Hulu

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Top Billed Cast

Sebastian Maniscalco

Robert De Niro

Salvo Maniscalco

Leslie Bibb

Ellie Collins

Anders Holm

William 'Lucky' Collins XIII

David Rasche

William 'Bill' Collins XII

Brett Dier

Doug Collins

Kim Cattrall

Sen. Tigger MacArthur (Collins)

Arielle Prepetit

Michelle

Adan James Carrillo

Young Sebastian

Colby Shinn

Brett

Crew

Laura Terruso

Director

Paul Weitz

Producer

Chris Weitz

Producer

Andrew Miano

Producer

Sebastian Maniscalco

Writer

Austen Earl

Writer

Dan Balgoyen

Executive Producer

Stephanie Economou

Original Music Composer

Jared Ian Goldman

Executive Producer

Scott D. Hanson

Editor

Amanda Mackey

Casting

Stephen Vincent

Casting

Javiera Varas

Production Design

Sebastian Maniscalco

Executive Producer

Rogier Stoffers

Director of Photography

Frank Capra III

First Assistant Director

Mary Attaway

Set Decoration

Sig De Miguel

Casting

Cathy Sandrich Gelfond

Casting

Shannon Kemp

Art Direction

Joel Dougherty

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Jerry Popolis

Hairstylist

Antoinette Rich

Makeup Artist

Tiffanie Hudson

Makeup Artist

Chris Navarro

ADR Mixer

Jamison Rabbe

ADR Mixer

Jacob Aller

Set Costumer

Tuezday Naper

Costume Supervisor

Peter Kelly

Set Dresser

Laura Eason

Makeup Artist

Jacob D. Garrison

Second Second Assistant Director

Smokey Cloud

First Assistant Sound Editor

David Ridlen

VFX Artist

Jennifer Bender

Set Costumer

Patrick Christensen

ADR Mixer

Zander Metz

Boom Operator

Jeffrey Roy

ADR Mixer

P.K. Hooker

Sound Designer

Nicole Foster

Set Costumer

Ray McIntyre Jr.

Visual Effects Producer

James Bertis

Utility Sound

Christopher Bonis

Sound Effects Editor

P.K. Hooker

Supervising Sound Editor

Ray McIntyre Jr.

Visual Effects Supervisor

Mike Matney

Grip

Anton Gold

Sound Mixer

Carla White

Makeup Artist

Ryan Palmer

Set Designer

Jesi Johnson

Set Costumer

Christopher Woodrow

Executive Producer

Chris Fenton

Executive Producer

Judi Brown-Marmel

Producer

Brenda Abbandandolo

Costume Designer

Michelle Johnson

Music Supervisor

Alex Richanbach

Co-Producer

Jared Ian Goldman

Unit Production Manager

Keith Jackson

Second Assistant Director

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

⭐ 6/10

August 4, 2023

“About My Father” is a big-hearted fish out of water story that’s easy to like. This universally accessible comedy is about the relationship between a son and his dad, and it celebrates the imperfections, embarrassments, and the importance of family.

Sebastian (stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco) is enjoying a successful life in Chicago. He’s in love with the radiant Ellie (Leslie Bibb), the woman of his dreams, and has a good relationship with his hairdresser father, Salvo (Robert De Niro). When Ellie’s family invites the couple to their annual 4th of July bash at their posh country club home in Virginia, she encourages Sebastian to bring along his dad so he won’t be left alone during the festive weekend.

It’s not going to be a cakewalk when the old school Sicilian immigrant meets Ellie’s wealthy and eccentric family, including her powerful politician mom Tigger (Kim Cattrall), hotelier dad Bill (David Rasche), well-heeled and do-nothing brother Lucky (Anders Holm), and her more peculiar brother Doug (Brett Dier), an aimless hippie who wants to be a sound healer. When it’s revealed that Sebastian is planning to propose, the three day trip gets even crazier, culminating in a culture clash for the record books.

Co-written by Maniscalco and Austen Earl, the film and its characters both feel highly personal. There’s no doubt that much of the story is based on actually events that happened in Maniscalco’s own life, including interactions with his own father. As most writers can attest, family is a never-ending source of material, and truth has the tendency to be a whole lot better than fiction.

The script is teeming with natural, authentic humor that’s very funny, and it’s not as stupid as the studio’s horrible marketing campaign would have you believe. Sure, there are the prerequisite pratfalls and bits of physical humor that aren’t exactly sophisticated, but despite the few things that don’t quite work, there’s a lot that does. The movie finds a perfect balance of smart quips and dumb gags, and there’s something here that will appeal to everyone, regardless of their sense of humor.

It’s a story you’ve seen time and again, but this time it’s a little bit different. Ellie’s family may be very rich, but they aren’t stuck up. They welcome Salvo with open arms and are extremely kind and loving. You’d expect these characters to be condescending and rude, but they aren’t. Even Ellie’s jackass brother isn’t a bad egg, he just grew up in a different class and knows nothing different. There are no jerks here, and certainly no villains. Everyone is easy to like, and the good-natured flair in the story is what will win you over. It’s almost the antithesis of the mean-spirited “Meet the Parents.”

It didn’t take long for me to succumb to the charms of “About My Father,” from its delightful cast to its wisecracking whimsy. This is a movie that’ll make you laugh, feel good, and leave the theater happy.

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$29,100,000

Revenue

$18,167,819

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About My Father (2023)

Sebastian Maniscalco, Austen Earl

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Recommended Movies

Crocodile Dundee

Fools Rush In

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Goodness Gracious Me

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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