Williams deserves best actor consideration for his performance of Clayton, a lonely unpublished author and unpopular high school teacher. His antisocial and spoiled son, Kyle (Daryl Sabara), wreaks havoc on both his professional life and his secret romantic relationship with another colleague (Actress Alexie Gilmore). But his life takes a 180-degree turn after a family tragedy. Clayton turns into a celebrity among the school’s faculty; he wins the girl of his dreams and becomes a national icon. Clayton goes from being persona non grata to achieving the crème de la crème of the literary world. But William’s character also becomes deeply disturbed when a lie he shares with a close few causes him to become embroiled in a firestorm of public significance. While the film is filled with a myriad of outrageously funny moments, this film is a social commentary on how deception can spin out of control and threaten one’s well-being. Goldthwait’s picture is inundated with lewd subject matter and over-the-top sexual overtones, but this is probably one of the most cunning adult comedies of the year and should not be missed in the box office.
Grade: A
In Selected Theaters Now Rated: R
Posted 9/6/09
