Movie Review: Struggle of A Single Father Raising His Daughter In ‘Fatherhood’

Fatherhood is actually a 2021 American comedy-drama movie directed by Paul Weitz from a screenplay by Weitz and Dana Stevens, based on the 2011 memoir ‘Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love’ by the one and only Matthew Logelin. The movie stars Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Frankie R. Faison, Lil Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, Melody Hurd, and also Paul Reiser.

Originally scheduled to be released in theaters by Sony Pictures Releasing, Fatherhood was sold to Netflix amid the COVID-19 pandemic and was digitally released on June 18, 2021. The movie follows a father who brings up his baby girl as a single dad after the unexpected death of his wife who died a day after their daughter’s birth.

What ‘Fatherhod’ Is About

A widowed new dad copes with doubts, fears, heartache, and dirty diapers as he sets out to raise his daughter on his own. Inspired by a true story. The film follows Logelin played by Kevin Hart as he grapples with grief while attempting to parent his newborn daughter and honor the legacy of the woman he lost too soon. Though he’s a single parent, Logelin realizes he has a community of friends and family to help shape Maddy’s life, and he must learn how to lean on them, especially as she grows older. Fatherhood, which also stars Alfre Woodard, Lil Rel Howery, and DeWanda Wise, traces Logelin’s journey as a young parent in both heartwarming and heartbreaking terms.

At school, the boys tease Maddy for what she’s wearing. She jumps off to tackle one of them but gashes her forehead open. The school tries to reach Matt, but he eventually checks his phone and rushes to the hospital. He tries to take Maddy away, but they insist that she needs stitches. Matt wants to decline as it’s the same hospital where Liz died and he doesn’t trust the doctors there, but he relents and lets them work. Feeling as if he neglected Maddy, Matt breaks it off with Lizzie.

At work, Howard tells Matt that he wants to send him to Croatia for a job. He takes Maddy to spend time with her grandparents. Matt later sees that Marion wants Maddy to stay with them long-term, which Maddy seems more open to. Marion makes him feel he’s making too many mistakes on his own with her, and he tries to take Maddy to go, even though she wants to stay with Liz’s parents. Matt then thinks he isn’t making Maddy happy, so he agrees to let her stay there for now. While Maddy sleeps, he expresses to her his fears about raising her on his own.

What Can Be Said About ‘Fatherhood’

This movie was an absolute joy to watch from start to finish. The cast was perfect all the way around especially little Melody Hurd. She steals every scene she’s in. Kevin Hart needs to do more roles like this. His comedy is enjoyable but he really was believable in this role. And then there’s the legend Alfre Woodard who just ignites the role of the mother-in-law with such amazing passion and poise.

This is one movie definitely be watching more than once and recommending to others. It’ll have you laughing then crying then laughing again. Cannot say enough good things about this. Those who see Fatherhood will find a positive, redemptive message about the beauty, joy, and pain of parenthood.

Sources: YouTube Netflix.

Adib Mohd

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