Movie Review: 'Father of Invention' Starring Kevin Spacey & Craig Robinson (Fabricating and "Tap That Ass")

Movie Review: Father of Invention (an Anchor Bay Film)

Release Date: Friday, October 15, 2011 (Limited Release/ DVD & Blu-Ray® Oct. 25^th)

Run Time: 93 min

Rated: PG-13

Grade ★★★★★

ANCHOR BAY FILMS AND K JAM MEDIA PRESENTS A SUNRISE FILMS; JONATHAN KRANE MOTION PICTURE ORGANIZATION K JAM MEDIA; HORIZON ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH TRIGGER STREET PRODUCTIONS

Synopsis: Millionaire infomercial guru, Robert Axle (Kevin Spacey) loses everything when one of his inventions has a design flaw that accidentally chops off the fingers of thousands of customers. After serving eight years in prison, a disgraced Axle is released, and ready to redeem his name and rebuild his empire with a new innovation. However, Axle’s ex-wife Lorraine (Virginia Madsen) has spent all of his money and moved into his house with her new husband Jerry King (Craig Robinson). Out of desperation, he finds a part-time job as a janitor, and is forced to move in with his estranged daughter Claire (Camilla Belle) and her over-protective roommates. Despite these setbacks he is determined to pitch his newest gadget and rebuild his infomercial empire. But the world has changed in the last decade, and Axle finds himself out of step with current technology, his family, and the self-confidence that made him king of the infomercials in the past. With all his wheels spinning, Axle soon realizes before he can be successful with his new creation, first he must reinvent himself.

Movie Review: 'Father of Invention' Starring Kevin Spacey & Craig Robinson (Fabricating and "Tap That Ass") 1

Robert Axle (Kevin Spacey) must work as a janitor at Family Mart (Photo Credit: Patti Perret Property of Anchor Bay Films)

The understated marketing does not do justice to this quaint and surprisingly hilarious film. Kevin Spacey stars as a former “fabricator” of inventions after his “Ab Clicker” severs the fingers of the users who, instead of doing crunches to click the channel changer, put their fingers in the socket to change the channels. Now finally free from prison, a disheveled but hopeful Robert is looking for the next big idea to get him back on top. The road to success is paved with disgruntled former “Ab Clicker” customers who chase him away from convenience stores and deny him loans at banks. Not to mention his daughter Claire, who seems to be disenchanted with the man who once was the “Light-O-Saurus” of her life.

I am very surprised at how much I laughed throughout the film. Robinson is fantastic as Jerry! Despite being married to Lorraine, Jerry is still a fan of Robert’s from way back. He even put some of his stuff in a separate storage facility. Their friendship shouldn’t be so natural but it’s totally convincing. Jerry still believes in Robert even though Lorraine hasn’t been able to forgive him. But I don’t put much stock in Lorraine. I mean, if you can blow through $362 million dollars in eight years without saving or investing any of it only to end up filing for bankruptcy, there is something seriously awry. I guess buying 499,999 copies of your own album/CD costs more than I thought. What? She wanted her album to go gold; is that so wrong?

There are a few slow moments in the film and I still don’t understand the unrealistic angst one of Claire’s roommates, Phoebe (Heather Graham), exhibits. She claims to be a lesbian with the stereotypical job of middle school gym teacher (which adds ambiguity to her claims), but of course, she’s just a woman scorned—unleashing her rage by playing “Guitar Hero.” Luckily, she begins to soften up towards the end, thus contributing to Graham’s slightly improved performance. I feel like she was really overacting to sell her part when she only needed to be less angry and more comprehensible. Sarcasm is fine but the overtly crude insults and snide comments were just a bit much.

Claire seems to be at odds with herself. She doesn’t know whether to forgive her father or not. He was sent away to prison during her formidable teenage years but I think the scars of the man he used to be when he made the “Light-O-Saurus” to the man he became, not even remembering what he bought for her last birthday – it was a horse not a bike – made more of an impact than him actually being in prison. Belle puts out a good performance but I felt like something was missing from it. It could be the genuineness of her plight in trying to raise money for her small business or the lack of experience in relating to the material at hand, but overall her performance was good.

I love Donna (Anna Anissimova)! As Claire’s other roommate, Donna is studying to become a lawyer but she comes off sounding a bit infatuated with her childlike wonderment towards Robert. Anissimova portrays Donna with such a genuinely enchanted view of the world; it’s almost as if she’s oblivious to certain things, as evidenced when her parents announce they’re getting divorced. Donna stands up for Robert and encourages him despite Claire’s icy treatment. But Robert is still looking to make his big break and it’s Donna who gets betrayed after showing him such kindness.

A surprising performance by Johnny Knoxville as Troy Coangelo, the Assistant GM at Family Mart, really puts an interesting spin on the story. No one wants to invest in any ideas from Robert Axle – the man who’s “fabrication” loped off fingers; but people don’t know Troy Coangelo and Robert is betting on pushing his idea with someone else’s name to pave the way to fortune and fame again. That is, of course, if Troy isn’t too dedicated to Family Mart. Knoxville plays Troy as if he were Troy – some random guy working at a discount chain store in a small town on Main Street. It’s refreshing to see Knoxville not trying be a Jackass.

Movie Review: 'Father of Invention' Starring Kevin Spacey & Craig Robinson (Fabricating and "Tap That Ass") 2

Virigina Madsen as Lorraine and Craig Robinson as Jerry

Father of Invention is charming, entertaining, and absolutely hilarious! Spacey does a brilliant job of playing a down trodden, yet arrogant man. You would think after eight years in prison, he would learn to appreciate the simple things in life, but he’s constantly looking around for that next big idea to catapult him back to the top. It is an enjoyable film which makes you smile. I suggest – if you’re watching in theatres — staying until the credits roll; the song Robinson and Madsen perform at the end titled “Tap That Ass” still has me laughing my ass off.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Photos courtesy and property of Anchor Bay Films^sm

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.