With actors like Robins Williams, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bruce Greenwood, a cameo by Mel Gibson and a director like Ivan Reitman, one may think the comedy "Father's Day" may well be worth seeing. However, IF any besides myself actually saw it, they may have labeled the picture a disappointment.

First off, "Father's Day" is based on a French film called "Les Compéres." Why is American cinema always trying to make decent comedies out of a culture that worships Jerry Lewis? "Les Compéres" was originally by Francis Veber, who wrote the book for "The Toy" in 1982--also a French movie first, and directed pictures such as "Three Fugitives" and "Out on a Limb;" enough trivia.

"Father's Day" is about a woman to cons two men into finding her runaway son by telling them each may be his real father. The comedy team put together to play this pair of unfortunate protagonists is Robin Williams (Good Morning, Vietnam) and Billy Crystal (Analyze This). Crystal plays Jack, a sharp and conservative lawyer from Los Angeles, while Williams plays Dale, a suicidal, over emotional poet and playwright.

Of course their trek brings them together, and they search for their possible offspring, named Scotty, through upstate California. The fathers get a tip later Scotty and his love interest follow the tour of rock band Sugar Ray. And of course there's some drug dealers involved and a hapless attempt by the boy's rearing father, played by Bruce Greenwood (13 Days), to rescue Scotty himself. However, he ends up spending most of the time being trapped upside down in a port-a-potty.

The story is simple and has several comical situations throughout it. There's also a little subplot with Jack's wife number three, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (TV's Seinfeld).

However, the picture lacks overall in--get this--PERFORMANCE. There are SO many scenes in which Crystal and Williams gloss over their characters' inner dialogue without forethought or attempt to prevent their lines from sounding contrived. Crystal was in one of my favorite comedies of the early 90s, "City Slickers." Co-writer Lowell Ganz also penned the adaptation for "Father's Day." Williams has proven himself both in comedy and dramatic arenas several times over and is MORE than capable of putting together an unforgettable role. Yet somehow, both manage to do just that in the SAME MOVIE.

What makes it worse is, Ivan Reitman, who's body of work as a director includes kick-ass films like "Stripes," "Dave" and most recently "Evolution," allowed these two powerhouse comedians to toss away SO many lines. It was almost disbelieving to watch them.

There are very funny moments between them, when their timing was unshatterable, but as a whole, their game was off on this picture. I don't think its a great film, but I do find it enjoyable enough to add it to my collection. Can't explain that one very well, so take from it what you will.

Remember, I have "Spiceworld" in my collection also, so my collection of DVDs obviously doesn't reflect what I consider my better judgement.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?