About My Father

Last updated

About My Father
About My Father poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLaura Terruso
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Rogier Stoffers
Edited byScott D. Hanson
Music by Stephanie Economou
Production
company
Depth of Field
Distributed by Lionsgate Films
Release date
  • May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26)
Running time
89 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$18.2 million [1] [2]

About My Father is a 2023 American comedy film directed by Laura Terruso from a screenplay by Sebastian Maniscalco and Austen Earl. The film stars Maniscalco and is loosely based on his life and his relationship with his father, played by Robert De Niro. Leslie Bibb, Anders Holm, David Rasche, and Kim Cattrall co-star in supporting roles.

Contents

The film was released by Lionsgate on May 26, 2023. It grossed $18.2 million and received generally negative reviews from critics.

Plot

Sebastian informs his traditional Italian (Sicilian) American father Salvo about his plan to propose to his American girlfriend, and Salvo insists on joining them for a weekend with her parents. Despite the clash between their two cultures and initial perception of having nothing in common, they eventually become a single, unified family by the end of the summer holiday weekend. [3]

Cast

Production

On April 26, 2018, it was announced that Sebastian Maniscalco was set to star in an untitled film for Lionsgate, inspired by his life, with Austen Earl attached to co-write the screenplay alongside Maniscalco. [4] There were no further developments until May 12, 2021, when it was announced that Laura Terruso was set to direct the film and Robert De Niro was cast in a lead role. De Niro actually met Maniscalco's father, for research on playing him. [5] American Pie 's Chris and Paul Weitz were attached to produce the film alongside Andrew Miano for their production company Depth of Field. [6] In September 2021, Leslie Bibb and Kim Cattrall joined the lead cast. [7] [8] In November 2021, Brett Dier, Anders Holm, and David Rasche joined the cast. [9]

Principal photography began on September 21, 2021, in Mobile, Alabama, and lasted for one month. [10] [11]

Release

The film was released by Lionsgate on May 26, 2023. [3]

About My Father was released for digital platforms on June 16, 2023, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on August 1, 2023. [12]

Reception

Box office

About My Father grossed $12.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $6.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $18.2 million. [2] [1]

In the United States and Canada, About My Father was released alongside The Little Mermaid , Kandahar , The Machine , and You Hurt My Feelings , was projected to gross $5–6 million from 2,400 theaters over its four-day Memorial Day opening weekend. [13] The film made $1.5 million on its first day, including $285,000 from Thursday night previews. [14] It went on to debut to $4.3 million (and $5.4 million over the four-day frame), finishing sixth. [15] In its second weekend, the film declined 52% to $2.1 million, finishing in seventh place. [16] [17]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 36% of 86 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.9/10.The website's consensus reads: "About My Father finds star/co-writer Sebastian Maniscalco drawing on his own life for material -- and inadvertently proving that a funny standup routine doesn't necessarily make for an entertaining film." [18] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 39 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [19] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an overall 80% positive score, with 51% saying they would definitely recommend it. [15]

Matt Zoller Seitz, in a review for RogerEbert.com stated: "De Niro, bless his heart, is the engine that keeps this refurbished jalopy puttering along for 90 minutes. There are a couple of scenes that suggest the stronger, more fascinating movie that might've been". [20] InSession Film's M.N. Miller called Maniscalco's film "A culture clash farce that works because of Maniscalco's style of comedy and De Niro playing to his long-established comic strengths as a cynical curmudgeon set in his ways." [21]

Accolades

At the 44th Golden Raspberry Awards, the film was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress for Kim Cattrall. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslie Bibb</span> American actress

Leslie Louise Bibb is an American actress and model. Bibb first appeared on television in 1996 with minor roles in a few series, and on film in 1997 with a small role in Private Parts. Her first recurring TV role was in The Big Easy (1997). For her role as Brooke McQueen on the WB Network dramedy series Popular, she received a Teen Choice Award for Television Choice Actress. She has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Christine Everhart in Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), What If...? (2021), and several viral marketing campaigns in which the character hosts WHIH Newsfront. She appeared as Grace Sampson / Lady Liberty in the Netflix series Jupiter's Legacy (2021). Bibb starred in the 2012 television series GCB and in the 2024 television series Palm Royale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roadside Attractions</span> Film production company

Roadside Attractions, LLC is an American production company and film distributor based in Los Angeles, California, founded on July 27, 2000, by Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff, specializing largely in independent films. Lionsgate bought a portion of Roadside in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Maniscalco</span> American stand-up comedian and actor

Sebastian Maniscalco is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Best known for his physical comedy, Maniscalco has released six comedy specials. He has also had supporting acting roles in the films Green Book (2018) and The Irishman (2019), playing mobster Joe Gallo in the latter. He also played Frank Russo in the 2022 film Somewhere in Queens, and later voice acted in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and IF (2024). Maniscalco co-wrote and co-starred in the 2023 film About My Father with Robert De Niro playing the role of his father. Maniscalco starred in the 2023 TV series Bookie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert De Niro</span> American actor (born 1943)

Robert Anthony De Niro is an American actor and film producer. Known for his collaborations with Martin Scorsese, he is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential actors of his generation. De Niro is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In 2009, De Niro received the Kennedy Center Honors, and earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anders Holm</span> American actor, comedian, writer and producer

Anders Holm is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is one of the stars and creators of the Comedy Central show Workaholics and starred in the short-lived NBC series Champions. He, along with fellow Workaholics creators Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine, and Kyle Newacheck, formed the sketch group Mail Order Comedy.

<i>The Intern</i> (2015 film) 2015 film by Nancy Meyers

The Intern is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed, written, and produced by Nancy Meyers. The film stars Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, and Rene Russo, with supporting performances from Anders Holm, Andrew Rannells, Adam DeVine, and Zack Pearlman. The plot follows a 70-year-old widower who becomes a senior intern at a fashion website, where he forms an unlikely friendship with the company's workaholic CEO.

<i>The Irishman</i> 2019 film by Martin Scorsese

The Irishman is a 2019 American epic gangster film directed and produced by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Steven Zaillian, based on the 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. It stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, with Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jesse Plemons, and Harvey Keitel in supporting roles. The film follows Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes a hitman involved with mobster Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and his crime family before later working for the powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). The film marked the ninth collaboration between Scorsese and De Niro, in addition to Scorsese's fourth collaboration with Joe Pesci; his first with Al Pacino; the fourth collaboration between Pacino and De Niro; and the first collaboration between Pacino and Pesci altogether.

<i>Dirty Grandpa</i> 2016 film by Dan Mazer

Dirty Grandpa is a 2016 American buddy sports romantic sex comedy film about a lawyer who drives his grandfather to Florida during spring break. The film was directed by Dan Mazer and written by John Phillips. It stars Robert De Niro and Zac Efron in the leading roles, with Aubrey Plaza, Zoey Deutch, Julianne Hough and Dermot Mulroney in supporting roles. It was filmed on location in Atlanta from January 19 to May 9, 2015.

<i>Wonder</i> (film) 2017 American comedy-drama film by Stephen Chbosky

Wonder is a 2017 American coming-of-age family drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky, who co-wrote the screenplay with Steven Conrad and Jack Thorne. It is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio and stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Mandy Patinkin, and Daveed Diggs.

<i>The War with Grandpa</i> 2020 American family-comedy-drama film directed by Tim Hill

The War with Grandpa is a 2020 American family comedy film directed by Tim Hill, from a screenplay by Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember, based upon the novel of the same name by Robert Kimmel Smith. The film is about a young boy named Peter who fights in a prank war with his grandfather to get his grandfather to move out of his room after he moves in with his family. Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Laura Marano, Cheech Marin, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Walken also star.

<i>Tag</i> (2018 film) 2018 film by Jeff Tomsic

Tag is a 2018 American comedy film directed by Jeff Tomsic and written by Rob McKittrick and Mark Steilen. The film is based on a true story that was published in The Wall Street Journal about a group of men, played by Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm, and Jeremy Renner, who had spent one month each year playing the same game of tag since their childhood. Annabelle Wallis, Isla Fisher, Rashida Jones, and Leslie Bibb also star. The film was released June 15, 2018, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $78 million worldwide, against a production budget of $28 million.

<i>The Spy Who Dumped Me</i> 2018 American action comedy film

The Spy Who Dumped Me is a 2018 American action comedy film directed by Susanna Fogel and co-written by Fogel and David Iserson. The film stars Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, Sam Heughan, Hasan Minhaj, and Gillian Anderson and follows two best friends who are chased by assassins through Europe after one of their ex-boyfriends turns out to be a CIA agent. The title is a play on the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. It was filmed in Amsterdam and Budapest from July to September of 2017. The film was released in the United States on August 3, 2018, by Lionsgate and grossed more than $75 million, while receiving mixed reviews from critics, who questioned the film's intended genre and tone but praised the performances.

<i>Green Book</i> (film) 2018 film by Peter Farrelly

Green Book is a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Peter Farrelly. Starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, the film is inspired by the true story of a 1962 tour of the Deep South by African American pianist Don Shirley and Italian American bouncer and later actor Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, who served as Shirley's driver and bodyguard. Written by Farrelly alongside Lip's son Nick Vallelonga and Brian Hayes Currie, the film is based on interviews with Lip and Shirley, as well as letters Lip wrote to his wife. It is named after The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide book for African American travelers founded by Victor Hugo Green in 1936 and published until 1966.

<i>Marry Me</i> (2022 film) American film by Kat Coiro

Marry Me is a 2022 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Kat Coiro, with a screenplay by John Rogers, Tami Sagher, and Harper Dill. Based on the 2012 graphic novel of the same title by Bobby Crosby, it stars Jennifer Lopez as Kat Valdez, a superstar, who decides to marry Charlie Gilbert, a math teacher holding a "Marry Me" sign, after learning that her on-stage bridegroom, Bastian (Maluma), has been having an affair.

<i>Prey for the Devil</i> 2022 film by Daniel Stamm

Prey for the Devil is a 2022 American supernatural horror film about a nun who trains as an exorcist under the Roman Catholic Church and confronts demonic possession. The film is produced under the studio Lionsgate and is directed by Daniel Stamm. It stars Jacqueline Byers, Colin Salmon, Christian Navarro, Lisa Palfrey, Nicholas Ralph, Virginia Madsen, and Ben Cross. Lionsgate distributed Prey for the Devil in theaters in the United States and Canada on October 28, 2022. The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $44.7 million worldwide.

<i>The Machine</i> (2023 film) American film by Peter Atencio

The Machine is a 2023 American action comedy film directed by Peter Atencio, inspired by the 2016 stand-up routine of the same name created by Bert Kreischer. The film stars Kreischer as a fictionalized version of himself, with Mark Hamill, Jimmy Tatro, Iva Babić, Stephanie Kurtzuba and Jessica Gabor.

<i>Joy Ride</i> (2023 film) American film directed by Adele Lim

Joy Ride is a 2023 American comedy film directed by Adele Lim, in her feature directorial debut, and written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, from a story by Lim, Chevapravatdumrong, and Hsiao. The film stars Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu, with Ronny Chieng, Meredith Hagner, David Denman, Annie Mumolo, Timothy Simons, and Daniel Dae Kim appearing in supporting roles.

<i>You Hurt My Feelings</i> (2023 film) American film by Nicole Holofcener

You Hurt My Feelings is a 2023 American comedy-drama film written, directed and produced by Nicole Holofcener. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobias Menzies, Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed and Jeannie Berlin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About My Father – Financial Information". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "About My Father". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  3. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 6, 2022). "Lionsgate's 'Expendables 4', Sebastian Maniscalco's 'About My Father' & Adele Lim Comedy Get 2023 Release Dates". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  4. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 26, 2018). "Sebastian Maniscalco To Co-Write, Star In Lionsgate Comedy". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Robert De Niro Taught Sebastian Maniscalco How To Cry On Cue | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend". May 29, 2023 – via YouTube.
  6. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (May 12, 2021). "Robert De Niro Joins Sebastian Maniscalco In Lionsgate Comedy 'About My Father'; Laura Terruso Directing". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  7. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 20, 2021). "Leslie Bibb Joins Sebastian Maniscalco & Robert De Niro In Lionsgate's 'About My Father'". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  8. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 27, 2021). "Kim Cattrall Boards Lionsgate Sebastian Maniscalco & Robert De Niro Comedy 'About My Father'". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ Grobar, Matt (November 18, 2021). "Brett Dier, Anders Holm & David Rasche Board Lionsgate's Sebastian Maniscalco Comedy 'About My Father'". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  10. ↑ Lane, Keith (September 21, 2021). "Robert De Niro movie filming in Mobile". NBC 15 News . Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  11. ↑ Specker, Lawrence (September 9, 2021). "Movie starring Robert De Niro looking for background actors in Mobile". AL.COM . Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  12. ↑ "About My Father (2023)". www.dvdsreleasedates.com. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  13. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (May 24, 2023). "Box Office: 'The Little Mermaid' Swimming to $120 Million-Plus Over Memorial Day Weekend". Variety . Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  14. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (May 26, 2023). "Box Office: 'The Little Mermaid' Makes $10.3 Million in Previews". Variety . Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  15. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 29, 2023). "'Little Mermaid' Still Swimming To $117M+ Opening Boosted By $80M Promo Campaign, Biggest For Disney Live-Action Title – Monday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  16. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (June 4, 2023). "Box Office: 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' Slingshots to Huge $120.5 Million Debut". Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Domestic 2023 Weekend 22". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ "About My Father". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved December 27, 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  19. ↑ "About My Father". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ Seitz, Matt Zoller. "About My Father movie review & film summary (2023)". rogerebert.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  21. ↑ Miller, M.N. (May 25, 2023). "About My Father movie review (2023)". insessionfilm.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Razzie Noms 2024: Chris Evans and Jennifer Lopez Up for Worst Actors; 'Shazam 2' and 'Ant-Man 3' Tie With 4 Nods". Variety . January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.