Let's be real for a second. When you see a Netflix original movie starring David Spade and produced by Happy Madison, you basically know what you’re getting into before you even hit play. It’s gonna be silly. There will be some crude jokes. Probably a lot of physical comedy that makes you wince. The Father of the Year movie, which hit the streaming giant back in 2018, fits that mold perfectly, yet it somehow manages to stir up a weirdly specific debate every time it resurfaces in the "Trending Now" row.
It’s a movie about a drunken debate. That’s the core of it. Two college grads, Ben and Larry, get into a hypothetical argument about whose dad would win in a fight. It sounds like something you’d hear at 2:00 AM in a dorm room, right? But things go south when the dads—played by David Spade and Nat Faxon—actually take the challenge seriously. It’s a mess. A glorious, awkward, low-brow mess.
Why People Keep Searching for the Father of the Year Movie
It's funny how some movies just have staying power on streaming platforms despite getting absolutely hammered by critics. If you look at Rotten Tomatoes, the critics weren't kind. At all. We're talking a 0% critic score for a long time, though the audience score usually sits much higher. Why the gap? Because sometimes you just want to turn your brain off.
People aren't looking for The Godfather when they search for this. They're looking for that specific brand of Happy Madison nostalgia. David Spade plays Wayne, a character who is essentially the "hot mess" archetype. He lives in a trailer, he’s got the scraggly hair, and he’s constantly making questionable life choices. On the flip side, you have Mardy (Nat Faxon), who is the overbearing, "successful" dad who is actually just as deeply flawed.
The movie taps into a very specific brand of suburban anxiety.
It asks: "Does your dad actually have his life together?"
Most of the time, the answer is a resounding no. That relatability, wrapped in layers of slapstick humor, is exactly why the Father of the Year movie persists. It’s a comfortable watch. You don't have to pay close attention. You can fold laundry while watching Wayne try to navigate a literal obstacle course.
The Cast That Makes the Chaos Work
David Spade is the anchor here. Love him or hate him, the man knows his brand. He’s been playing variations of this character since Joe Dirt, and he’s perfected the art of the lovable loser. But the real surprise for many viewers is Nat Faxon.
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Faxon is an Oscar winner. Seriously. He won for writing The Descendants. Seeing him go from high-brow screenwriting to a movie where he’s engaged in a literal "dad-fight" is part of the charm. It adds a layer of "wait, is this actually satire?" that most people miss on the first watch.
The supporting cast includes:
- Joey Bragg as Ben (the son who is way too smart for this situation)
- Matt Shively as Larry (the catalyst for the whole fight)
- Bridgit Mendler as Meredith
- Bobby Lee (who, as usual, brings a chaotic energy that's hard to describe)
The chemistry between Spade and Faxon is what carries the second act. When they are competing for the "Father of the Year" title—mostly in their own heads—the movie leans hard into the absurdity of middle-aged male ego. It’s not just about physical strength; it’s about who is the "better" man, which usually results in both of them proving they are anything but.
The Problem With Modern Comedy Ratings
We need to talk about why movies like this get such bad reviews. Critics often judge comedies against the same metrics as dramas. They look for "character growth" and "thematic resonance."
Guess what?
Nobody watches a David Spade movie for thematic resonance.
They watch it to see a guy fall off a roof or get into a ridiculous misunderstanding with a lawnmower. The Father of the Year movie isn't trying to change the world. It’s trying to make you chuckle while you’re scrolling on your phone. If you judge it by the standards of a summer blockbuster, it fails. If you judge it as a "Friday night with a beer" movie, it’s a total success.
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What Actually Happens (Without Giving Too Much Away)
The plot kicks off when Ben (Joey Bragg) graduates from college and heads back home before moving to New York for a big-time job. His dad, Wayne, is a disaster. His friend Larry’s dad, Mardy, is a scientist who seems perfect but is actually a repressed wreck.
The "who would win in a fight" question starts as a joke. But for Wayne, who has nothing else to be proud of, it becomes a point of honor. For Mardy, it’s a chance to prove he’s not just a "nerd."
What follows is a series of escalating stunts.
There’s a drone sequence. There’s a scene involving a very unfortunate incident at a job interview. There’s the "Apex" competition, which is basically a DIY Ninja Warrior course for dads. It’s ridiculous. Honestly, some of it is a bit cringey, but that’s the point. It’s a movie about the embarrassment of having parents who refuse to grow up.
Is It Actually "Father of the Year" Material?
The title is ironic, obviously. Neither of these men deserves a trophy. But by the end of the Father of the Year movie, there’s a weirdly sweet message buried under the poop jokes. It’s about accepting your parents for the flawed humans they are.
Wayne might be a drunk who lives in a trailer, but he genuinely loves his son. Mardy might be a control freak, but he’s trying to protect his kid from the mistakes he made. It’s a classic Happy Madison trope: the heart is always there, even if it’s covered in grease and cheap beer.
Why You Might Have Missed It
Netflix releases so much content that movies like this often get buried after their first month. If you missed it back in 2018, it’s likely because you were caught up in the Bird Box hype or something similar. But as the "Sandler-verse" continues to expand, people are circling back to these smaller entries.
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It’s a quick watch—only about 90 minutes. In an era where every Marvel movie is three hours long, there is something deeply refreshing about a comedy that gets in, tells a few jokes, and gets out.
How to Watch and What to Expect
If you're going to dive into the Father of the Year movie tonight, here's how to prep:
- Lower your expectations. This isn't Lady Bird. It’s a slapstick comedy.
- Watch with friends. This is 100% a social movie. It's better when you can groan at the bad jokes together.
- Check out the soundtrack. Happy Madison movies always have surprisingly good needle drops.
- Don't take it personally. If you're a dad, you might feel attacked. Just lean into it.
The film is currently streaming exclusively on Netflix. Because it’s a Netflix Original, it’s unlikely to move to another platform like Hulu or Max anytime soon.
Actionable Takeaway for Your Next Movie Night
If you're looking for a laugh that doesn't require a high IQ, give this one a shot. But if you want to get the most out of it, watch it as a double feature with The Wrong Missy or The Week Of. It rounds out that "New Age Happy Madison" era perfectly.
Stop worrying about the Rotten Tomatoes score. Sometimes a 0% is exactly what you need to unwind after a long week. Just hit play, grab some popcorn, and watch David Spade be David Spade. It's exactly what you think it is, and honestly, that's perfectly fine.
Before you start the movie, make sure your Netflix profile is set to "Standard" or "Premium" to catch the suburban chaos in 4K—it doesn't make the jokes any smarter, but at least the cinematography of the trailer park looks crisp. Once you're done, check out the "Behind the Scenes" clips often found in the "Trailers & More" section; seeing the actors break character during the fight scenes is often funnier than the movie itself.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
- Open your Netflix app and search for "Father of the Year."
- Add it to "My List" so the algorithm knows you're interested in mid-2010s comedies.
- If you've already seen it, look up "The Do-Over" or "Sandy Wexler" for more of that specific Spade/Sandler energy.
- Check the "More Like This" section at the bottom of the movie's page to find other Happy Madison gems you might have skipped during their initial release windows.