Billboard Dad (1998 Video) User Reviews

kids help dad get a date

[helpless_dancer · 5/10 · 31 January 2002]

The 2 cutest kids in the world decide to help their dad rope in a mate by advertising his stats for all the world to see....much to dad's chagrin. Naturally, this leads to adventures for the girls and romance for dad. The usual stuff from the Olsons': in other words, no great shakes, but a fun time just the same.

The Dawning of a New Era

[oldwebby · 5/10 · 3 August 2004]

Although this was one of their earlier films with a bizarre premise, it was still highly enjoyable and the start of their more mature work after their initial Trenchcoat Detective series. The Olsens were already way ahead of the fashion trends, mentioning Ugg Boots years before their recent boom in popularity. The romance was not overdone, but light and playful as it should be for their age group. This tasteful approach was also reflected in their clothing, especially bathing suit choice (they were always shown in one piece). The typical older guy crush was well played and spoke to every girl's first fantasy date. I mean, who didn't laugh when Ashley mistakenly said, "Thanks, Bod!" instead of Brad, the "hunk-o-saurus'" name! An interesting trivia point of this movie would be that in the later films, Mary-Kate plays the tomboy character, while Ashley is the girlier, but still capable, twin. However, in this film, Ashley comes out sporting a surfer-girl look, and while later fans were surprised by this inversion, obviously both twins are extremely versatile in their acting approaches.

Well done

[Gunnar_Runar_Ingibjargarson · 5/10 · 17 June 2008]

It's the Olsen twins to the rescue once again in their straight-to-video release, Billboard Dad. With Venice, California, serving as a Bohemian backdrop, the preteen queens of the dead-mom genre scheme to find their widowed father a girlfriend by turning a Hollywood billboard into a personal ad. Breezy predictability ensues: Dad gets thousands of letters and dates a series of progressively weirder women before bumping into Ms. Right. Since Dad's a successful sculptor, true love destroys the angst behind his profitable art. As his agent tries to drive a wedge between the lovebirds, the twins become unwitting accomplices. All of this just sets the stage, really, for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen to do their thing--they are way cool, fashionable, and mature beyond their preteen years--with their equally hip friends, who have a drama of their own unfolding on the diving team. Nothing truly unexpected happens, but it doesn't matter. In other words, parents, don't watch this alone.

One of the better Olsen flicks

[FurBallsUnite · 1 July 2006]

As with "Our Lips Are Sealed," I found this to be one of the better Olsen movies. The sets are beautiful; then again, Southern California is usually beautiful. Some of the acting is a little cheesy, especially on the character Nigel's part; this is inevitable in most children's movies, however. Overall, this movie is cute and harmless fun with a semi-unique storyline to boot. I give it a 10 in the field of Olsen movies, because I feel that it can't be rated against mainstream blockbusters such as "Crash" or "Braveheart." I would definitely recommend this movie if you're looking for a good family movie that adults and children can tolerate and enjoy.

Really dumb

[Liz-70 · 1/10 · 9 August 1999]

Okay...there are these two girls, twins, and about the only thing that IS cute about this movie is their hair! I would rather watch some dumb cartoon than this superficial piece of nothing. I grant you that maybe incredibly young children find this type of farce enjoyable but anyone older than 5 will realize the shallowness of this movie...my advice watch Haley Mills in the Parent Trap if you want a movie with adorable twins

Wow. wow. belch

[mmartins-1 · 1/10 · 26 February 2005]

Aaaaaa i just finished watching this movie and oh my. wow. that was. just. so. gosh darn. horrible. I mean it started out kind of good, kind of interesting story line but then wow. they just took a hatchet to its neck. I mean they killed it. How anyone who acted in that movie is still earning money in any sort whatsoever is beyond me, especially Nigel. He was bad at monologuing, singing, and acting for Christ's sake. I mean whenever he opened up his mouth, it was just awkward. you just want to pull your hair out whenever he talks. wow. everyone involved in that movie should be ashamed of themselves. The Olsen twins better be thankful to god that their good looking because if they weren't wow. they would be nowhere after that movie.

*minor spoilers*

[crash5 · 1/10 · 5 December 2002]

"Like OMG! This movie was like so...totally...cool to the max!" NOT!!! Can you say lame or what? This is exactly like all their other movies! (Dead mom, trying to fix up their dad etc...) The twins are the worst actresses ever to cross the screen...them and all their stupid little wanna-be friends that hang around the pool in the movie. That Cody kid and that Tattoo jerk were such little snots. "I did the mix!" What kind of line is that? And what's up with the girls painting their dads face on the billboard...finished it all in one night? That's hard to believe. Most of their lines are generic sayings like, "Cool to the max!" and "Totally awesome!" Whoever was talking about the plot holes in this movie was right! I mean, didn't the kids say how the lady at the cafe had named a sandwich after them? Then when they go in there to eat at the beginning the waitress is like, "Oooh okay. One Tyler Family Special coming up!" and she brings them an ice cream sundae. The whole movie was stupid and not worth watching. Avoid this at all costs!

The best Olsen Twins movie!

[TwzzlrFrk · 7/10 · 7 January 2000]

After the passing of Full House, a couple of not-so-great kiddie films and a second failed TV show on TGIF, it's good to see that the Olsen Twins can still make the good stuff happen on the screen.

Billboard Dad is the story of two girls who try desperately to hook their single father up with a gorgeous gal. What better way to achieve this by . .. advertising on a billboard? Cheesy? Maybe. Anyway, the course of true love never did run smooth, and so the romance that is to spark between the twins' dad, Max, and his new girlfriend, Brooke, is not free from obstacles. First, there is Brooke's son, Ryan, who at first the twins have trouble getting along with. Later on, the twins befriend Ryan and they team up to tackle the next obstacle - Nigel - Max's maniacal money-minded agent. Together, the three come up with an intelligent scheme and . . . well . . . I don't wanna give away the WHOLE thing!

Bottom line . . . this movie doesn't have a cheesy script - it's quite realistic. One can see that the Olsen twins are more than just two cute faces but actually have some talent too. It's a great family movie and I recommend it.

Very decent film from the Olsen Twins

[lisafordeay · 5/10 · 30 June 2020]

Billboard Dad is a 1998 TV movie starring Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen who play Emily and Tess Tyler who's dad has been single ever since their mom died. So the two girls decide to put up a billboard which helps single women date their dad. We later see a woman named Brooke who's fed up of dating and is off men. But when she meets the girls dad she starts to like him. But Max's scheming employer Nigel wants to break up Max and Brooke(who is also a mother to Ryan as she was married before but he left). But will they or won't they get together.

It's a silly movie but it's still a decent film as I had a soft spot for the Olsen twins.

If you are a fan of the twins and like schemes where the kids get their dad or mom with someone e.g. The Parent Trap or It Takes Two then you'll like this.

Maxwell Tyler is an overworked single artist in the need for a new love and a new life.

[bethlaubenthal · 8/10 · 21 March 2005]

Maxwell Tyler is an overworked single artist. His girls, Emily and Tess, see how much he has changed since their mother died. The girls are on a mission to help their father find true love again. They paint a billboard to advertise their dad. It makes the news. Their father is not all that happy about it. Maxwell's agent is a shady character. Maxwell's agent tries everything to discourage potential relationships between Maxwell and other women. Emily and Tess soon catch on to that. Although I don't watch many Mary-Kate and Ashley movies, I really liked this one. Emily and Tess have a sense of duty to their father, to help him regain a part of his life that was destroyed when his first wife died. It is a touching story with a surprising ending. This movie is aimed at the younger generation of viewers. However, I would recommend it to anyone.

What A Charmer Of A Movie!

[rickrick1964 · 10/10 · 19 September 2005]

This is one of the cutest movies that Mary-Kate and Ashley (Tess and Emily Tyler) have ever made! It's fun and clever and has all the elements that you could hope for in a family comedy! I highly recommend that you see this one if you haven't already because it really demonstrates what talent these two young ladies had at a very young age! The plot of this movie is relatively simple yet it also shows some of the complexities of being an adult (or a child) in today's society! It's one of the best things (projects) that these fraternal twins had done up to that age and it is still a great (and entertaining) movie to watch yet again years later! I highly recommend it! Sincerely, Rick Morris

Funny

[CoolGirl200 · 10/10 · 4 August 1999]

This movie is funny with Mary - Kate & Ashley playing Emily and Tess which one is surfer and the other a swimmer. I like the part when they found out that Brooke's son is the skate boarding rival guy and I like too when Cody tell Emily or Tess by mistake that he has a crush on her. But my favorite part is when I we hear the rap of Nigel talking about taking the money of Max. This movie is funny with beautiful girls and cute guys =+)

A Fun Film for the Female Population of the Planet!

[inkblot11 · 12 October 2004]

Tess and Emily Tyler (Olsen twins) live with their widowed father, Maxwell (Tom Amandes) in Venice, California. Maxwell is a sculptor who has thrown himself into his work after his wife's death. Naturally, the girls want to see their father in a happier state of mind. At a friend's suggestion, Tess and Emily repaint a neighborhood billboard with their father's vital information. Women respond! While dad is starting to date, the twins are also going to diving meets. Will Dad find true love, even as the Tyler girls are winning diving competitions?

This adorable movie is certain to win the hearts of females, young and old. Amandes does wonderfully in his search for a mate, even when it requires him to go on a string of bizarre and funny dates. Mary-Kate and Ashley are charming and they don't miss a beat of the humorous script. No, it's not Shakespeare. But even Will himself might call this a merry romp. Recommended for those who are tickled to find a romantic, upbeat, family-friendly movie.

a disappointment

[youngtwins · 26 February 2003]

This film is terrible. The plot is crap and the acting is awful. Compared to the other Olsen twin films this is a real disappointment and there is nothing even remotly interesting. Give this film a miss and go watch It Takes Two instead.

Yet another Superficial movie about nothing from The Olsen Twins

[Willow192 · 8 March 2001]

Is it just me, or are all of Mary-Kate and Ashley's movie exactly the same? How many more times can I see them in a family where the mother is dead, and the dad is raising them while trying to find some happiness of his own. I'm tired of seeing them trying to switch places to get their dad to meet the girl of his dreams. The movie was so horrible that you could drive a truck through the plot holes. Like...if Ashley was so horrible at diving...what would make her all the sudden have a better dive than her sister who is like the "almighty champion" of diving? And how would a 12 year old little freak wannabe have a tattoo and an eyebrow ring? The only thing that's cute in this movie is Mary-Kate and Ashley's hair. Save you money and watch it on FOX Family.

Oh sheet...

[wills_queen · 14 October 2000]

Possibly the worst movie ever. See "Switching Goals" instead. It didn't make any sense. No 12 year old can get a tattoo without parental consent, especially one that preppy and annoying. The acting was atrocious, the storyline stupid, and I'm glad I saw this movie for free, I never want to go see it again.

a shipwreck of a movie

[igmardehaan · 8 April 2004]

Children's films about real life problems can be very well done and evenly moving and beautiful for both children and adults to watch. This film, however, is not one of them. I can easily forgive the Olsen twins, they are not that bad. But the director and the other actors, especially the one who plays the dad, have done a horrible job. There is not a single subtle moment in the film, in which two girls cope with the loss of their deceased mother and try to lighten up their terribly sad and sobbing father. The story is dreadful and superficial.

If you have lost somebody, this film will not help you to get over it or make you feel better in any way. It's too fake. A shipwreck of a movie.

very good film for the Olsen twins

[mum-6 · 12 April 2001]

I have always liked the Olsen twins, because they are good actresses. I have seen them in Full House, and all their other movies as well except for three most recent ones. Anyway, they are very good in this movie. It has a good plot and good emotional scenes, and it teaches us that losing a parent is not the end of the world, and that you can cope with it as long as you keep him/her alive in your heart. Very good movie. A must see movie if you like the Olsen twins.