Film

Can we ever really make peace with our parents? Can we forgive them for being human? These are the questions haunting Blake Morrison (Firth), a successful middle-aged writer facing the impending death of his father, Arthur (Broadbent). As Arthur becomes less reachable under the influence of heavy painkillers, Blake repeatedly tries to initiate a Big Conversation by saying, “We should talk.” Arthur deflects this ominous overture by focusing on how Blake can help his mother (Stevenson). And even if Blake did finally get the conversation he so craves, it’s not clear he has any idea what he wants to say.

The flashbacks to Blake’s childhood and teen years suggest a few talking points. In his younger days, Arthur was a larger-than-life fellow, adored by almost everyone. But Blake knew him as an adulterer and a petty bully, calling his son “fathead” and telling embarrassing stories about Blake at parties. Ah, parents.

Working from a memoir, Tucker has crafted a film that too often feels rote and formulaic. What raises the film is Broadbent’s smart performance as a man who loves his family deeply, even if he expresses it badly. For every insult and little cruelty, there’s a moment such as Arthur teaching Blake to drive, and drive fast. The further this male weepie moves into those gray areas, the better it is.