Father of Invention

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I was quite surprised at all the ultra negative reviews regarding 'The Father of Invention.' Okay, I'll admit it isn't Kevin Spacey's finest film and obviously it isn't up to the standards of American Beauty, but I found it had a certain amount of charm to it. Spacey plays a slick 'infomercial' salesman who ends up getting his good-life taken away from him when he goes to jail, thus leaving his wife and daughter high and dry. Fast forward eight years and he's released and desperate to make amends (not to mention lots of money). It's not the most original of stories and you can probably predict the ending, but it is Kevin Spacey in the lead role and, slightly dubious script or not, he still lends plenty of heavyweight kudos to the whole affair. It's definitely a comedy/drama. If you're expecting a 'laugh-a-minute' affair then you'll be sorely disappointed, but I found it had enough humorous moments to keep me happy. Like I say, predictable ending and plenty of 'lessons' to teach us, but if you're a fan of Kevin Spacey, it should keep you going until his next offering.

As the charismatic inventor who appears on TV, Kevin Spacey does quite a good job. He's done this type role before, but Bernadette Peters was there to overshadow him. Here, that's not a problem. Later, I can't say Spacey is that good, considering what he has accomplished, but he has his moments. The best one comes when he realizes he needs to fix his relationship with his daughter. Heather Graham doesn't start out well. She is nothing more than a nasty lesbian who keeps pointing out that she's a lesbian. Later, she proves to be much more and is even likable. And not a lesbian. Bi, maybe. While I liked her two roommates better at first, by movie's end Phoebe is the best character. I'm not sure what to say about Johnny Knoxville. The store manager resembles Ty Burrell and, maybe just for that reason, I think Burrell could have played the role. And better. Perhaps he wasn't available. His bumbling Phil Dunphy had similarities to this character that make me think it could have worked. Still, there were times I found the man entertaining. I liked Claire okay, but she quickly grew impatient with her father, and I guess with good reason. She wasn't as easy to like later, and I'm not even sure how good a job the actress did. One thing stands out about her and that's her great smile at the bank. I also liked Donna, but she really gave me a reason to like her. At least at the beginning. I'm not sure she had much in the brains department, but she is a sweet girl. Red West was memorable as Axle's engineer. While he was old and getting senile he knew what he was doing, mostly. It is a great scene where Axle realizes this man he is depending on isn't quite what he used to be. John Stamos is ideal for the role of a constantly smiling but superficial pitch man. You want to like him because of how he appears on the surface and can't stand him when you see what he's really like. He's just not around much. Michael Rosenbaum is kind of a disappointment. He makes the most of a small role but he used to be so much like Axle. Genuinely evil with lots of money, though, instead of just someone who messed up. Craig Robinson is easy to like as the new man in Axle's ex-wife's life. And about the ex--she is nasty and I can't stand her. And yet Virginia Madsen played such a wonderful character when I saw her the same weekend in "Sideways". She proved what a range she has. Be sure and stay around for her atrocious duet with her husband in the closing credits. Other than the hideously bad closing credits, the music is good most of the time. It was a mostly enjoyable movie. I wanted to see Axle succeed. But it's not easy.

I don't know if Kevin Spacey made this atrocious movie because he lost a bet, or was simply doing someone a favor, but it CAN'T be for the quality of the script! Spacey plays the character Robert Axle, a 'fabricator' who invented a hazardous product that landed him in prison for 10 years. After he gets out, he reconnects with his daughter who wants nothing to do with him, and ditsy ex-wife who has burnt through the fortune he left behind trying to record an album (although completely tone deaf, but nobody will tell her). Axle cleans up his disheveled prison look (complete with a man bun), to 'fabricate' a successful child finder wristwatch, which completely redeems his career. If my review sounds like a complete mess, than I have accurately captured the essence of this movie. It's hard to believe the genius behind 'American Beauty' and 'The Usual Suspects' had anything to do with this incredible waste of time. Gave a VERY generous 2* out of 10.

Confession: I've read a bazillion IMDb reviews but have never felt compelled to actually sign up and write a review until seeing this movie. The storyline does follow face value conventions elemental to this genre, but typically in movies like this, the protagonist's return to favor is a self-contrived path to virtue by way of owning that he's a slouch, waging a virtuous penance campaign, earning his way out, and ending up happy with glory, gold, and girl. This movie is somewhat the same, but in ways entirely different. This movie departs from the tired-out "earn your own way out" meme common to this genre. Spacey's character endears believably. Despite good intentions, he remains realistically flawed from start to end. The movie also scores real life credibility points in the way those hurt by Spacey's selfishness realize that the most "selfish" thing they can do in return is to forgive him for the sake of their own peace of heart. Those departures of character give the movie a true-to-life feel in the way everyday people make everyday decisions to either condemn or forgive offenses. This is not to say that complete, total gracelessness doesn't have its place in movies. Inglorious Basterds, for example, did that for me with perfect aplomb. This movie does the opposite, also brilliantly, by exposition of judgment collapse after judgment collapse without syrupy over-sentiment. Even the hilariously lewd piano song during the closing credits (which will SO go viral) is itself the movie's final, superbly conceived act of judgment collapse. We humans are happier when we forgive offenses, and to see a movie that conveys that truth without being fake, Church-Ladyish, and corny was sheer inspiration me.

Even first rate actors like Kevin Spacey cannot save a film just on their name alone, they need a better script to work with. In this case Kevin Spacey plays a successful multi-millionaire inventor named Robert Axle who ends up serving a 10 year prison term for inventing and releasing prematurely an exercise machine that severs fingers from a number of purchasers. Robert Axle invested his whole life in marketing his inventions and no time what so ever with his little girl, played by Camilla Belle, or his ex wife Lorraine played by Virginia Madsen. When Axle gets out of prison not only is his name poison with the large retail giants, but his ex wife has remarried to a Forest Ranger named Jerry King played by Craig Robinson, and they have slowly squandered a fortune of over 200 million dollars. Axle's only daughter Claire, played by Camilla Belle still suffers from latent child abandonment issues. So life has been cruel to Robert Axle these past 10 years in prison. He first befriends his daughters two roommates, who agree to give up their couch to Robert rather than have to watch him live in a men's shelter for too long. In an effort to redeem himself and regain his Midas touch with a new invention, Axle goes to work at the fourth largest retail chain named Family World, whose immediate Assistant Store Manager is a guy named Troy Coangelo, played superbly by Johnny Knoxville. Axle and Troy don't see eye to eye on the store's priorities and as such Axle's career at Family World is short lived. Desperate to make amends with his daughter Claire, Axle does come up with a new invention but can't find an investor willing to risk financing a dead beat and felony ex convict like Axle. Eventually he does find one investor and he also makes amends with his daughter. Yes, there are a few sentimental tear jerker scenes between father and daughter but not quite enough good film value for me to recommend Father Of Invention for your viewing pleasure. As a result I rate the film a 5 out of 10. Viewer beware of a weak script with little decent content.

If you watch this movie because it sounds like a great movie, you'll probably be disappointed. It's not great. It's not bad, either. It's okay. If you watch this movie because you enjoy watching Kevin Spacey act, then you'll enjoy this flick. Spacey is that rare actor I can enjoy watching even in a bad movie...and lately some of his flicks haven't been that inspired. But, Spacey is a gem, even when the film isn't. I rather enjoyed Camilla Belle as the daughter and Heather Graham and Anna Anissimova as her friends. John Stamos' part was so small as to be pathetic -- basically 1 scene. Johnny Knoxville did okay as the store manager. To be honest, I've never understood the attraction to Virginia Madsen as an actress, and I still don't. Among these supporting actors, the only one that stands out -- perhaps -- is Camilla Belle. The plot? After Robert Axle (Spacey) goes to prison when one of his inventions maims many customers, he comes out after 8 years. Will he rebuild his reputation? It doesn't seem that way at first when he winds up as a rather unsuccessful custodian in a discount store...and gets fired. But, he finally gets a great idea and makes it a success. The bigger question is whether or not he will be successful in repairing his relationship with his daughter. Unfortunately, the plot is beneath Kevin Spacey. But it's watchable, and of course, his acting is very watchable.

First of all this movie made me 1) Use my brains and think positive 2) Laugh at least few times 3) Positive mood. So it's definitely not a bad movie! It makes you open your mind a bit, like Sandlers "Click" (but not that good movie IMHO). Really the backbone of "Father of Invention" are actors performances... K Spacey and J Knoxville are the first ones on my mind, also H Graham performed well. I usually get easily bored by movies, but now i was enjoying the whole 90 minutes (thanks for Spacey). With b-class actors i probably would have disliked the whole movie. Plot isn't anything special, it has already been used -feeling. I would have hoped to see more of "Inventor"-aspect as there ain't many inventor movies. I think it's possible to make a lot entertainment out of it. Nice little movie to watch if you don't want anything too serious but no mindless/dirty humour either. By the way this is my only IMDb review so far, i had the urge to write it because i felt so much difference to previous very negative review. This tells something about the movie, i don't usually want to "defend" the movies i like.

Don't listen to the critics who pan this movie. Yes, it is predictable, and obvious. But the movie doesn't preach, condescend, take itself (too) seriously, or take its precious time going somewhere. This is actually better than I expected. No question about it, "Father of Invention" is great entertainment, and very effective. You don't have to be a "genius" to enjoy this movie. I could have done without the subplot regarding Heather Graham's lesbian character. I didn't feel it was necessary. It's just a plot device. And I would have loved to see John Stamos a lot more. With an interesting character as his, that one scene wasn't enough. Although he is mentioned near the end of the film. If you're looking for a quality movie to watch (and enjoy Kevin Spacey), this is that movie. ***1/2