Toward the end of his life, his star having significantly dimmed, Robin Williams made a lot of curious independent features that served to pay the bills and keep him in the public eye.
Some, such as the almost impossibly dark black comedy "World's Greatest Dad," were bold, if nonetheless desperate choices. Others, like "The Big White" and the film adaptation of Armistead Maupin's novel "The Night Listener," were minor, meandering curiosities.
But there's nothing even remotely positive to say about "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn," which provided Williams his final starring film role.
Its Debby-Downer of a plot centers on a once happy-go-lucky man descended into seething rage and self-loathing after one of his two sons dies tragically.
Diagnosed with an inoperable brain aneurysm and lied to by a frustrated doctor that he has only 90 minutes to live, he decides to make every minute count by repairing his estranged relationships with his wife and remaining son.
You will like or sympathize with no one in this film, especially Williams, who tragically appears to be struggling just to get through it, and most especially overrated actress Mila Kunis as the terrible, terrible doctor who gives the Williams character his fake diagnosis out of sheer selfishness and conceit, and whose quest to find him and make it right is rooted in those two characteristics alone. The film wants you to root for her. You will root for the revoking of her license to practice medicine, and perhaps jail time.
This all builds to a schmaltzy climax on the Brooklyn Bridge, for no good reason, and the awfully unconvincing green-screen composite shot has to be seen to be believed.
The great Peter Dinklage, as the Williams character's brother, is brilliant as usual, but utterly wasted. Seriously, you'll wish for a sequel or TV series featuring his devout Jewish little person lawyer.
He's the only good thing about this movie, which is otherwise about as entertaining as reading the obituary of an old high school chum.
Some, such as the almost impossibly dark black comedy "World's Greatest Dad," were bold, if nonetheless desperate choices. Others, like "The Big White" and the film adaptation of Armistead Maupin's novel "The Night Listener," were minor, meandering curiosities.
But there's nothing even remotely positive to say about "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn," which provided Williams his final starring film role.
Its Debby-Downer of a plot centers on a once happy-go-lucky man descended into seething rage and self-loathing after one of his two sons dies tragically.
Diagnosed with an inoperable brain aneurysm and lied to by a frustrated doctor that he has only 90 minutes to live, he decides to make every minute count by repairing his estranged relationships with his wife and remaining son.
You will like or sympathize with no one in this film, especially Williams, who tragically appears to be struggling just to get through it, and most especially overrated actress Mila Kunis as the terrible, terrible doctor who gives the Williams character his fake diagnosis out of sheer selfishness and conceit, and whose quest to find him and make it right is rooted in those two characteristics alone. The film wants you to root for her. You will root for the revoking of her license to practice medicine, and perhaps jail time.
This all builds to a schmaltzy climax on the Brooklyn Bridge, for no good reason, and the awfully unconvincing green-screen composite shot has to be seen to be believed.
The great Peter Dinklage, as the Williams character's brother, is brilliant as usual, but utterly wasted. Seriously, you'll wish for a sequel or TV series featuring his devout Jewish little person lawyer.
He's the only good thing about this movie, which is otherwise about as entertaining as reading the obituary of an old high school chum.