Sony Pictures
Nate Bargatze has not been canceled but he’s definitely not a popular person these days for political reasons we aren’t going to get into in this review. Timing-wise, this is not good for him because The Breadwinner, which I believe is his first starring film, has just recently been released and he’s pretty good in it.
I say “pretty good” because Nate’s not really that much as an actor but he’s SO personable and has such a great line delivery, obviously carried over from his comedian career, and an endearing Tennessee accent.
The first place I ever saw him was as a host on Saturday Night Live.
SNL is well-represented here with the presence of Colin Jost as a neighbor and Will Forte as an inept roofer. I really like Colin, and he does a scary Pete Hegseth on NBC but he’s even less of an actor than Nate. Will Forte, on the other hand, steals every scene he’s in, even over the three cute kids.
During the closing credits, along with outtakes, we see excerpts from Nate’s various recorded live comedy concerts, which tells us that quite a bit of the material in the scripts came from his routines and, presumably, his real life
The great music score features a number of familiar songs like Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered,” and “Workin’ for the Weekend” by Loverboy (whom I saw in concert 44 years ago! Sheesh, I am old!) You also get more contemporary songs by artists including Taylor Swift and Mandy Moore, that last being appropriate as Mandy co-stars as the little-seen mother of the girls—all three appropriately cast child and teen actresses.
What happens is that Mom has come up with an organizational device that keeps the plates spinning perfectly at home all the time while Dad brings in the money as the hottest Toyota salesman in town.
When Mom’s device gets her on Shark Tank, that TV series that funds new entrepreneurs, Dad has to take over all her duties while she heads off for weeks at a time to set up a business.
From here, it’s a leveled-up variant of Michael Keaton’s Mr. Mom as Dad has absolutely zero idea of how to keep things at home running apace. His wife had it all going so smoothly that he just had always ignored everything and concentrated on work.
Suddenly, he finds himself raising three daughters—a teen, pre-teen, and kindergartener—that he knows and loves, but whom he actually knows next to nothing about.
From there, the slapstick escalates exponentially. As the wife’s success seems to be growing in absentia, her husband goes to bizarre lengths to attempt covering up the increasing destruction of their home and the alienation of his daughters so as not to ruin her moment.
End of the day, this is Nate Bargatze’s vehicle, co-written and produced by him and specifically tailored to his strengths. If he didn’t work, the picture wouldn’t work. But he works. His deadpan delivery is great here, even though there are no surprises. You know there’ll be a happy ending and (SPOILER) there is. The Breadwinner is just a good, old-fashioned fun, silly, comedy with a charismatic lead doing what he does best and backed by an enjoyable supporting cast. Nothing particularly adult, nothing political.
Ironically, Bargatze’s oft-stated rule of keeping politics out of his comedy is what’s come to hurt his career a bit recently. He hasn’t done anything wrong, so don’t let that keep you from enjoying this pleasing, family-friendly production.
Extras include commentary, featurettes, bloopers, deleted scenes, extended short, and making of.
Booksteve recommends.
Oh, and by the way, Nate’s own dad has an even funnier comedy magic special, produced by Nate, on YouTube. Also highly recommended!
