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Fatherhood (film)

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Not to be confused with Father Hood.
Fatherhood
Official release poster
Directed byPaul Weitz
Screenplay by
Story byDana Stevens
Based onTwo Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love
by Matthew Logelin
Produced by
  • Marty Bowen
  • Kevin Hart
  • David Beaubaire
  • Peter Kiernan
Starring
CinematographyTobias Datum
Edited byJonathan Corn
Music byRupert Gregson-Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • June 18, 2021 (2021-06-18)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million

Fatherhood is a 2021 American comedy-drama film directed by Paul Weitz from a screenplay by Weitz and Dana Stevens based on the 2011 memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love by Matthew Logelin. The film stars Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Frankie R. Faison, Lil Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, Melody Hurd, and Paul Reiser, and follows a new father who struggles to raise his daughter after the sudden death of his wife.

Originally scheduled to be released in theaters by Sony Pictures Releasing, Fatherhood was sold to Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic and was digitally released on June 18, 2021. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with criticism for its formulaic approach but the emotional weight and Hart's against-type performance receiving praise.

Plot

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Childhood sweethearts Matt and Liz Logelin prepare for the birth of their first child. Soon after delivering their daughter, Maddy, Liz suddenly suffers a pulmonary embolism and dies.

Matt is devastated, but is determined to raise Maddy as a single parent. His friends and family, however, are concerned that he may not have the skills or patience to handle raising Maddy alone. Liz's mother, Marion, who has a tense relationship with Matt, is who feels this the most strongly. After he refuses to let her stay for six months to help care for Maddy or move back to his Minnesota hometown, Marion warns him that Maddy needs family and female role models, and that he has to think about what is best for her.

Though Matt initially struggles with the demands of Maddy's care while working full-time, grieving Liz, and suffering from gendered expectations and insensitivity from others who do not respect his role in his daughter's life, he eventually succeeds with the help of friends and fellow parents.

Maddy grows into a confident and tomboyish young girl, while Matt is set up at a party with a mutual friend. Though he is unnerved that her name is Lizzie, they hit it off and begin dating. Though Maddy initially does not like the idea of her father dating, she quickly warms up to Lizzie, and they become friends. But when Maddy is injured on the playground and Matt does not hear the school's phone calls while having sex with Lizzie, he fears that dating her is getting in the way of focusing on Maddy's needs. He breaks up with her, which upsets Maddy.

Matt and Maddy travel back to Minnesota for Marion's birthday. Maddy, beginning to feel the absence of a mother figure in her life more acutely, is overjoyed to be able to stay in her mother's old room and learn more about Liz. Matt, however, is unhappy seeing Liz's room changed, and insists that it is confusing for Maddy. When he tries to leave with her, she insists that she is happier here with family and reminders of her mother. Believing that he has repeatedly failed to understand Maddy's real needs, Matt reluctantly leaves her with her grandparents and returns home alone.

Despite success at work and an anticipated promotion, Matt misses Maddy and blames himself for being a bad father. When in the airport, preparing for a long business trip abroad, Matt is overwhelmed with sights of fatherhood and leaves to go back to Minnesota, where he reunites with Maddy and makes up with her. With Marion's blessing, they return home, where Matt rekindles his relationship with Lizzie.

Cast

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Production

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In July 2012, it was reported that Marta Kauffman, Denise Di Novi and Allison Greenspan were developing a television film adaptation of Matthew Logelin's memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love for the Lifetime network.[2] This version did not move forward, and in May 2015, it was announced that Two Kisses for Maddy would be a theatrically-released film, with Channing Tatum starring and producing, Dana Stevens writing the screenplay, and TriStar Pictures distributing.[3][4] In January 2019, it was announced that the film would be titled Fatherhood and star Kevin Hart, replacing Tatum, with Paul Weitz directing and writing his own draft.[5] In May 2019, Melody Hurd and Alfre Woodard were set to star opposite Hart.[6][7] In June 2019, Anthony Carrigan, Lil Rel Howery, Paul Reiser and Deborah Ayorinde also joined the cast of the film, which had been moved to Columbia Pictures.[8][9] In July 2019, DeWanda Wise was also added.[10]

Release

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Fatherhood was initially scheduled to be released in theaters on April 3, 2020,[11] but on January 6, 2020, it was delayed to January 8, 2021.[12] Later that year, it was pushed back a week to January 15, 2021. On March 30, 2020, it was brought forward to October 23, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] On April 24, 2020, it was delayed to April 2, 2021,[14][15] and on November 19, 2020, it was delayed again to April 16, 2021.[16]

It was then announced that Netflix had acquired the worldwide distribution rights (except China) to the film from Sony Pictures Releasing, and set it for streaming release on June 18, 2021.[17] The film was the most-watched item on the service in its first weekend.[18] A week after its release, Netflix reported the film was on track to by watched by 61 million households through its first month of release.[19]

Home media

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Fatherhood was released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on June 14, 2022 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.[20]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 68% based on 77 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Fatherhood offers few surprises, but strong work from a smartly assembled cast gives this fact-based story real emotional resonance."[21] According to Metacritic, which assigned a weighted average score of 53 out of 100 based on 18 critics, the film received "mixed or average reviews".[22]

William Bibbiani of the TheWrap praised Hart's "confidently laid-back and affable lead performance," and wrote, "Perhaps a little too slight to be memorable in the long run, this sensitive and charming tale reassures without, somehow, completely ignoring reality."[23] From The Hollywood Reporter, Lovia Gyarkye called the film "both an effective star vehicle and a tender tearjerker," and said, "Hart, usually known for his comedy... embraces a more dramatic side here, and is surprisingly convincing in these moments."[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Gyarkye, Lovia (June 16, 2021). "Kevin Hart in Netflix's 'Fatherhood': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Rose, Lacey (July 10, 2012). "'Friends' Co-Creator, 'The Lucky One' Producers Developing Lifetime Telepic (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  3. ^ McNary, Dave (May 29, 2015). "Channing Tatum and Sony to Make 'Two Kisses for Maddy'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  4. ^ Chitwood, Adam (May 30, 2015). "Channing Tatum to Produce, Possibly Star in Former Lifetime Movie TWO KISSES FOR MADDY". Collider. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  5. ^ Lang, Brent (January 18, 2019). "Kevin Hart to Star in Paul Weitz's 'Fatherhood'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  6. ^ Sneider, Jeff (May 16, 2019). "Exclusive: Kevin Hart's Sony Dramedy 'Fatherhood' Finds Its Young Lead". Collider. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  7. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (May 23, 2019). "Alfre Woodard Joins Kevin Hart In 'Fatherhood' Drama At Sony". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  8. ^ Kit, Borys (June 13, 2019). "'Barry' Breakout Anthony Carrigan Joins Kevin Hart in Drama 'Fatherhood' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  9. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (June 28, 2019). "Lil Rel Howery, Paul Reiser, & Deborah Ayorinde Join Sony's Kevin Hart-Led 'Fatherhood' Film". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  10. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 2, 2019). "'She's Gotta Have It' Star DeWanda Wise Boards 'Fatherhood' Film At Sony". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  11. ^ Nissen, Dano (June 28, 2019). "'Cinderella' Musical Comedy, Kevin Hart's 'Fatherhood' Get Release Dates". Variety. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  12. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Pederson, Erik (January 6, 2020). "Kevin Hart's 'Fatherhood' Moves Back Eight Months To January 2021". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  13. ^ Stedman, Adam; McNary, Dave (March 30, 2020). "'Morbius,' 'Ghostbusters' Sequel and More Sony Movies Pushed Back to 2021". Variety. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  14. ^ McClintock, Pamela; Couch, Aaron (April 24, 2020). "'Spider-Man' Sequel Delays Release to November 2021 Amid Sony Date Shuffle". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Uncharted Movie Release Date Pushed up to July 2021 - IGN". Archived from the original on 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  16. ^ "Monster Hunter Movie Moves Up Release Date". Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 4, 2021). "Kevin Hart Sony Drama 'Fatherhood' Heading To Netflix For Summer Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "'Fatherhood' Soars at Netflix, 'Misfits' Clicks as VOD Premiere". 21 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Netflix Says Kevin Hart's 'Fatherhood' Will Be Seen in 61 Million Households in First Four Weeks". Variety. June 26, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "Fatherhood". Amazon. 14 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Fatherhood (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "Fatherhood Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  23. ^ Bibbiani, William (June 16, 2021). "'Fatherhood' Film Review: Kevin Hart Parenting Tale Avoids Artificiality". TheWrap. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
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