Why Him?

Every father's nightmare is explored in this foul-mouthed comedy, starring Bryan Cranston as a strait-laced suit in the print publishing business whose cherished daughter (Zoey Deutch) falls for an eccentric tech millionaire (James Franco). Pushing a very old formula to its limits, nothing in the film will come as much of a shock (aside from perhaps the language). A reversed Meet the Parents scenario (director John Hamburg was a writer on that film) unfolds with a glut of physical gags, and a well-intentioned if vague moral of the story about accepting change. Cranston is perfectly deadpan and not afraid to make a fool of himself, while at the other end of the spectrum Franco is a charismatic, cranked-up gag machine. The film's finer moments, however, come from the supporting players, most notably Megan Mullally's mischievous mother who produces a stream of hilarious, improvised comebacks. Why Him? is awkward at times and some viewers may find the dialogue offensive, but like the title character, it has enough innocent charm to win you over.