Tynan DeLong’s entirely improvised feature Dad & Step-Dad brings laughs, head-scratches, and dadly pride. But it also broaches the existential dread we all share but hits dads differently: actually having to do things. As the titular dads interact glibly atop a bubbly yet transparent surface of social niceties, their actual familial relationships struggle under the weight of their insistence on paternal politics.
As expected with something that has “dad jokes” written in all caps in king-size Sharpie on the side of the box, the cadence of what we’ve come to understand as “dad energy” comes in full swing with a 3-iron at the first stroke at the front half at tee time. We get a dad’s eye view of their intricate politics at work and are thrust nonchalantly into the hamster wheel of their collective psyche as they enter a mental battle with each other to win the most affection.
Their work is never done, even when on a three-day weekend getaway with their 13-year-old son/step-son Branson (played by Brian Fiddyment, who’s at least post-drinking age, and delivers a powerfully understated performance that feels very lived-in. I can’t wait to see more from this dynamic actor! You’re welcome, Brian.) who has trouble connecting with his birth father Jim (Colin Burgess) but adores his step-dad Dave (Anthony Oberbeck).
The premise is refreshingly simple: just dudes hanging out, until Jim’s ex-wife Suzie (Clare O’Kane) comes to visit. Delivered from just a rough outline, the trajectory of Dad & Step-Dad moves between passive-aggressive pissing contests to a fully thought-out and earnest examination of how operating within unique family units can work beneficially for everyone. But until these revelations, Dad & Step-Dad wades through what can arguably be a lightly-tread brand of existential horror.
Through experiential dialogue, both Jim and Dave claim to know how their mutual son Branson operates, from an intellectual level down to how he likes his dogs on the grill (it’s boiled, not burnt). But in a classic situation that upgrades the standard dadly game of catch, Jim sails an Aerobie Pro Ring miles past his son on the first throw instead of just using another lacrosse stick like Branson.
So where does this thread of existential terror come from and how does it manifest? Situations end before they can begin and tension makes action an impossibility for the feuding fathers, placing them in a state of unease and confusion. The immediate punishment for these two takes the form of a malicious equilibrium that forces the two opposing forces together until something gives. Their punishment simplifies the vacuum these dads voluntarily traverse to, tortuously pitting two near-identical mirror images of compromised individual masculinity against each other in a post-Darwinist and post-nuclear family reality.
But what happens when you group these two magnetic forces of the same polarity together until they have nowhere else to go? Societal and domestic implosion. These dads have no outlet to voice their frustrations, yet they must scream. If it weren’t for Branson’s mother visiting, his presence would wedge each father permanently apart, rather than foster the natural loving support that Suzie so exudes.
It’s rare we see a comedy so sharp in satirical bite ride so cozily on a series of vibes that never get old. Perhaps because it feels timeless for now, thanks to Celia Hollander’s relaxing DeWolfe-like score. The moment it washes over, we’re aware that we’re in for something special. There have already been talks of a sequel, which can only be good news. The only question that remains to be answered is which dad is the better grill master? At this stage, it’s just a matter of opinion.
Dad & Step-Dad is available to stream on NoBudge and is available on Digital platforms.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCkao8QBX6g]
This improvisational film explores the complexities of familial relationships and the challenges of modern fatherhood.
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Anya is an avid film watcher, blogger and podcaster. You can read her words on film at letterboxd and medium, and hear their voice on movies, monsters, and other weird things on Humanoids From the Deep Dive every other Monday. In their “off” time they volunteer as a film projectionist, reads fiction & nonfiction, comics, and plays video games until it’s way too late.
