Happy Madison’s ‘Father of the Year’ Is Both Outlandish and Relatable

Sandra Miska

After years of playing roles next to the likes of Chris Farley and Adam Sandler, David Spade gets his chance to be the disfunctional doofus in “Father of the Year,” the latest Netflix comedy from Sandler’s production company Happy Madison. Even Joe Dirt seems relatively put together next to Wayne O’Malley (Spade), a middle-aged unemployed slacker whose idea of a relaxing afternoon involves turning his neighbor’s pick-up truck bed into a pool and lounging naked in it. When it comes to his 22-year-old son, Ben (Joey Bragg), the apple has fallen far from the tree, as the younger O’Malley has recently graduated college top of his class. During a pit stop home before heading to New York for a lucrative job, things get out of hand after what starts off as a joking conversation between Ben and his best friend, Larry (Matt Shively), escalates into what ends up being a cautionary tale about macho pride gone awry.

It is during a guys’ night at a local bar with a third friend, weirdo Christian Scientist P.J. (Bill Kottkamp), that Ben and Larry get into an argument regarding whose dad would kick the other’s ass in a fight. Short-statured and rarely sober, Wayne doesn’t seem like a safe bet. However, Larry’s father, Mardy (Nat Faxon), a scientist who is routinely bullied by his eight-year-old stepson (Peyton Russ), isn’t exactly Mr. Tough Guy. When Wayne gets wind of the bet, he steps up to the challenge, not so much because he loves to fight, but more so because he wants to prove himself to his son, whom he feels pulling away. After a surprise visit to Mardy ends with both Wayne and Ben in jail and the latter getting his job offer rescinded, Wayne makes it his mission to set things right.

Certainly, “Father of the Year” contains much of the outlandish comedy that one has come to expect from Happy Madison films. In addition to the much-publicized pick-up truck pool gag, there’s also a loopy scene involving Larry and Mardy getting high and ending up rolling around in dirty laundry, plus a hilarious sequence involving Mardy’s adventure with a crazed flasher (Chris Titone). However, at the end of the day, Ben and his buds have pretty relatable problems. While Ben deals with his dad and his budding romance with former sixth grade flame Meredith (Bridgit Mendler), Larry struggles to figure out his next step, as his current job working as Mardy’s lab assistant, a position that entails his rubbing nipple cream on Wayne and other paid test subjects, isn’t exactly fulfilling.

Shively, an actor who also has a recurring role on the Netflix series “Santa Clarita Diet,” spoke to Entertainment Voice about the similarities between himself and Larry.

“I related to him in the sense that I didn’t know what I wanted to do, other than be an actor. When anybody asked, ‘What would you do if you couldn’t be an actor?’ I had no idea. I was putting every egg in this basket. Luckily, it seems to be paying off.”

“Father of the Year” was co-produced by Happy Madison mainstay Allen Covert. Covert, who also has a small role in the film as another neighborhood father, said it was the humorous concept of two middle-aged dads duking it out that attracted him to the screenplay.

“Look, every guy, at one point has been with his friends and has been like, ‘Oh, no. My dad can kick your dad’s ass,’” he explained to Entertainment Voice.

Covert also discussed his long-standing creative relationship with Sandler and Happy Madison.

“With all of us, it’s really a group effort. He’ll be working on one thing, giving [the writers] notes, and I’ll go sit with those guys and write while he’s editing something else. We’re just always trying to make each other laugh and not be bored. We figure, if we’re not bored, then the people watching won’t be bored, hopefully.”

With toxic masculinity being a major theme in “Father of the Year,”, Entertainment Voice had to ask Covert and company if any of them have ever found themselves in a situation similar to the one in the film, one in which pride and bragging caused things to get out of hand.

“I’m sure I have, but I usually back down real quickly,” admitted Covert.

“I’ve always been competitive with all my friends,” revealed Shively. “I think that’s just a natural thing to do. Luckily, I always knew that my dad would probably lose in a fight, so I never made any sort of bet like that.”

“I’m not a competitive person, but I am competitive in certain ways, but not like that, not [when it comes to] fighting or games,” said Kottkamp. “Me and my friends, we can be competitive, but it’s playful. It’s not as ‘boy-y.’ My real life isn’t as male-fueled… I was in musical theatre. It was a different style of competition.”

Fortunately, “Father of the Year” isn’t a total testosterone-fest. In a romantic gesture, after discovering Meredith never got to attend her prom, Ben attempts to sneak the pair of them into one at the local high school. In one of the more laugh-out-loud moments, Fortune Feimster makes a cameo as the fed-up coach/chaperone who bars their entrance, forcing Ben to improvise a romantic evening.

In what may come as a surprise, Covert admitted to preferring the softer, more reflective scenes.

“I like those moments where it’s really sweet. I love Joey and David after the prom, where they’re talking and roasting marshmallows over the garbage can. It’s a good, coming together moment for them.”

“Father of the Year” releases July 20 on Netflix.