Like Father (2018) User Reviews

Good movie with good acting

[odree-50206 · 7/10 · 4 August 2018]

I didn't expect much when I watched that movie and I actually really liked it. Ok, I just love Kristen Bell so I might not be 100% objective here... However it's a cute story with true to life characters. Might not be original, and the (happy) ending was pretty obvious but I imagine that's what we need once in a while. I thought it was a simple story, not too cheesy with endearing characters that I could relate to. When reading some of the reviews I was really surprised to see how many people didn't like that film. Even if it's not the movie of the year, it doesn't deserve so much hatred. I guess it just depends on what you like. So if you enjoy comedy/drama movies, give it a try and make your own opinion.

Cute

[heydiddlediddle007 · 7/10 · 4 August 2018]

This was a really cute movie. I'm not a big fan of either lead actors and still enjoyed it!

Cruise control

[martingray1 · 7/10 · 24 August 2019]

Yes, yes, it's good publicity for Royal Caribbean, you know that within a few minutes. Best to move on and enjoy the great characters, nicely acted, playing out a story that's not always as predictable as it could be, against great scenery. Faint praise? Not really, this is firmly a genre piece, but the characters are more nuanced than usual, with Grammer's Harry especially interesting. We enjoyed it loads and found it rather touching.

An overly long infomercial

[Gordon-11 · 3 August 2018]

This film tells the story of a woman who is ditched at the altar. She goes to her supposed honeymoon on a cruise with her estranged father.

The film starts off strong, but it starts to go a little downhill after being on the cruise. The cruise ship itself is fantastic, but the film concentrates too much on the activities and facilities of the ship. It feels a bit of a hard sell, and is almost like an infomercial.

A simple and wholesome tale

[ramenturtle · 7/10 · 5 July 2021]

The story's just a tad slow and the Royal Caribbean advertising is pretty in your face, but the movie is still worth a watch. It tells a nice story emphasizing the importance of family, forgiveness, and moving forward.

Father and daughter bonding

[ComedyFan2010 · 7/10 · 19 January 2019]

I think when there are movies about parents and their children there aren't enough about mothers and sons or fathers and daughters. So this was a good start. Some great actors in it. Lelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell are a good combo. Seth Rogen always makes me happy. Him saying that he never smoked anything in his life was the highlight of the movie.

It is not a very exciting movie. Very predictable. But it is fun to watch. Not hilarious out of my mind funny, but fun. Some good jokes here and there, sweet bonding between characters and some nice secondary characters and a nice message to not spend all the life on our phones and working but pay attention to the ones around and how beautiful life is.

Kristin Bell and Kelsey Grammer are good, writing is flat at times and the blatant advertising is annoying

[carolyn_lateulere · 7/10 · 1 October 2018]

I liked Kristin Bell and Kelsey Grammer a lot, they were very believable and mostly likable. Some of the writing could have been a little more engaging - there wasn't a lot of buildup to the key turning point in the movie, so it was kind of "meh" when it happened. There could have been more intensity leading up until that point.

The ad for the cruise was blatant and kept taking me out of the movie, so thumbs down for that. Ironic that she's supposed to be so good at advertising/marketing/branding but that was such a "fail" throughout the movie.

Seth Rogan's character seemed to be kind of a distraction, as well. Did we really need to know that much about him for the part he played in the story? It didn't seem like it. Seemed like they were trying a bit hard to make his part substantial.

But overall I enjoyed the movie, would recommend with the appropriate expectations.

Great if you watch at 1.5x speed

[perlshop · 6/10 · 3 August 2018]

Found this on netflix. Good thing about watching this on the web is that you can install the video speed controller plugin and speed up the movie. We watched it 1.5x (actually 1.7x later on) and it felt okay.

A lot of thing which would be boring were okay because of the high speed. That's why giving it 6 start otherwise it's only 4-5 max.

The longest advertisement I've ever seen

[elisabethselby · 4/10 · 5 August 2018]

Royal Caribbean, awesome marketing! The film, bleh.

Lauren Miller Rogan is a Triple Threat!

[blende · 7/10 · 7 August 2018]

Lauren Miller Rogan took on an enormous task for an up and coming filmmaker having performed the triple crown of writing, producing, and directing 'Like Father'. Her biggest strength is in the writing. The screenplay is grounded, realistic, and doesn't pander to the audience. She lets story unfold patiently while keeping a solid pace and not being too dialogue heavy. There are some nice ideas here and who doesn't love a father daughter movie? And Lauren, thanks for staying in the drama lane and not veering into comedic distraction for this story. If LMR keeps channeling John Hughes she may evolve into a creative and revered filmmaker. Screenplay B+

Her second best strength is in Directing. LMR clearly relates to people on an emotional level and that comes through with the acting. Fortunately she was directing two proven leads in Bell & Grammer, but LMR has done a very nice job of allowing the actors to express themselves as much visually as verbally. As for the rest of the cast, it felt like an ensemble of characters you meet briefly standing in line at a concert and not for days on a cruise. They were essentially stereo types and none terribly memorable. 'Like Father' doesn't rise to the success of 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' when it comes to creating an enormously loveable ensemble cast, but you could clearly see LMR was consciously or unconsciously influenced by that film. The technical side is adequate, but this isn't a cinematically driven epic. A few too many shots of the cruise ship activities made the film feel a bit like a travel infomercial for a few fleeting seconds here and there. (Still love you Lauren) Directing B

I'll admit I know very little about the role a producer plays, however I hope Lauren's next film take's place far away from New York or Los Angeles. I can think of a hundred small towns with exceptional drama just waiting to unfold and with LMR's talent of writing and clearly being an 'actors director' she would be far more effective exploring life in the middle. Leave New York to Woody Allen and Los Angeles to everybody else. Producer B

Good Job Lauren.

Great Cast, Mediocre Story and a 90 minute Royal Caribbean Commercial

[debtman · 3/10 · 7 August 2018]

So many good casting choices, even with a run of the mill story like this they could have delivered and enjoyable film. And certainly it had it's moments. Unfortunately the over the top Royal Caribbean marketing made it really hard to think of this as a film and not a 90 minute commercial. I mean I can get behind a little product placement but this is so over the top it's just hard to believe anyone thought it was a good idea. I'm really wondering now how much Royal Caribbean paid for this, maybe they financed the entire movie for how much they were featured.

Cute, too many hateful reviews

[kimbpaul · 8/10 · 27 January 2019]

Look, it won't win any awards, but it was a cute little movie. I don't like Seth Rogen in anything, but considering it's his wife's movie, his presence was to be expected. Someone/any one else could've played his character equally well, hopefully better. He wasn't a believable romantic interest. We'll never know. All the haters crapping on the cruise line...c'mon, really? It wouldn't matter what cruise line they were on, the same people would be fussing. I guess they'd prefer if the cruise line had no name. I enjoyed the dynamic between Kristen & Kelsey, they played their evolving characters well. It may have been predictable but still cute. Maybe really only a 6 because of Rogen, but I thought I'd give the ratings a little boost, just for effort.

Good enough movie.

[ca_barsanetti · 7/10 · 27 August 2018]

I don't know what all these people who hated the movie were expecting, the movie does what it proposes. It's not and Oscar winning movie, but duh, we all knew that when we clicked "watch".

An okay movie

[AkiriNim · 5/10 · 12 August 2018]

Don't expect too much of this movie and you'll probably enjoy it. It's very predictably but still a sweet story. I especially liked that it's about the relationship between father and daughter and not another light weight romantic comedy.

I did think the supporting actors were a bit too stereotypical and the ending was slow but all in all an okay movie.

How this movie makes you feel

[tullphd · 3 August 2018]

Slow, bored, watch at double speed, predictable, WHAT??

I don't think so.

The pacing was slow because this relationship mending process doesn't happen over night, or does it get fixed with one good hangover.

You want action comedy, wam bam thank you mam without the emotions that they are working through. I think it might appear cliche, but relationships are not. This movie made me cry, as I am that father. This movie hit so close to home that i know it will be a turning point in my life. It is easy to produce an action, car chase, gun shots from everywhere, science fiction escape that is void of heart, love, longing, remorse, trust,fear, and a dozen more emotions.

The fear that we face in our lives is not that bad guys are trying to kill us, and chase us down and bury us in a ditch.

The fear is to be alone, without love, friends, a home, food, a job, a family; but as we grow all these dynamics change. When once a small barbecue was easy, and everybodt was there to chip in, then later we don't even want to go through the actions.

We can hide in our work or run away to that place where we can feel our ;life, as it is.

I will recommend this movie, and pray that any of the hurtful things that happen in this flick will never happen to any one ever again.

Open your souls eye to what this movie is trying to share. You will cry if you have a heart.

Good flick!

[loriaronson · 7/10 · 12 August 2018]

Deep subject matter that many can relate to. Great characterization and acting. Could even say it was "cheesy" due to the comedic aspect.

Touching film

[rey631-395-192425 · 7/10 · 13 August 2018]

I really loved Kelsey's character. He seemed very genuine. Even will all the advertising, I still enjoyed the film. Makes you realize how lucky we are to have the love of family.

Thoroughly enjoyable

[bessevans-51352 · 7/10 · 13 August 2018]

Loved this movie. There were sincere moments and plenty of laugh out loud moments. Not full of happy go lucky cliches but gave an interesting look into the lives of people who have messed it up, but are striving to make it work. Had a couple of moments where I wondered where it was going but quickly found its feet again.

Just one of those...

[dilocorinne · 7/10 · 15 November 2018]

Nice little movies that keep you entertained & feel good. I'll never understand the tearing apart of a movie that gave me exactly what I expected. If all the negative reviews were unhappy then just turn it off. I'm sure no one forced you to watch. Be kind people! It's just a movie!

Commercial for Royal Carribbean

[ciaramscully · 1/10 · 6 August 2018]

It's a shame Royal Caribbean didn't pay as much for a director and screen writer as they must have paid for the actors to sell their souls in this awful, cheesy, predictable movie. It was a nice nostalgic look at a Royal Caribbean cruise ship as we've just stepped off one. I'd watch it if you want to see Harmony but not if you want to see a decent movie.

Easy enjoyable watch

[nicolamcd-23944 · 6/10 · 11 February 2019]

I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. Although it went on longer than it should have, I lold a few times during. It's nothing amazing, not your Saturday night movie, but more like one of those easy watches for a lazy Sunday morning.

Infomercial with no character development

[lolagoyal · 3/10 · 11 August 2018]

Most disappointing movie I've seen in years, but not objectively worse than a 3. I am a fan of Bell, Grammer, and Rogen, and I had no idea they could be in a movie that is so shallow and so undeserving of its "emotional" moments. I hope Royal Caribbean paid them A LOT of money for making this infomercial.

Enjoyable and touching.

[sweeneyc-91047 · 8/10 · 5 August 2018]

Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell have good chemistry. The story is simple and meaningful, about connecting with people. Worth a watch.

More an advert than a film

[andykowal-23161 · 6/10 · 20 December 2020]

It started well but later it was just an advert with breaks for other stuff. Still gave it 6.

A long ad

[mjorihuela · 1/10 · 8 August 2018]

What could have been a good story is told in a dull way. It feels that either scriptwriters were lazy or they were too constrained by the cruising company to show the features of their product.