“The Breadwinner” Delivers Some Great Wholesome Family Fun
- Matt Palmer
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
For those not familiar with the comedian Nate Bargatze, he has been called a clean comedian and has been noted for his deadpan, monotone delivery. Bargatze was also the highest-grossing stand up comedian in 2024, with over a million tickets sold across his shows.
In “The Breadwinner,” a man becomes a stay at home dad when a once in a lifetime opportunity takes his wife on a prolonged business trip for one month.
With three young daughters and little experience handling their day to day needs, he soon realizes that running a household is the toughest gig he’s ever had.
While most critics really panned the movie due to its numerous cliches and outdated tropes, many audiences and fans of the comedian are really enjoying this family movie. I’ll admit when I first saw the trailers for the movie, I did feel the same way after seeing some of the familiar tropes. And, I’m happy to say that despite these tropes and cliches, this is definitely a fun movie that all families will really enjoy!!
“The Breadwinner” is a relatable, squeaky-clean and light-hearted family comedy that the whole family can comfortably watch together. Also fans of Bargatze’s deadpan stand-up comedy felt his signature style translates really well to the big screen as a leading man.
Many viewers can easily connect with the day to day chaos of modern parenting and the humorous, and slightly exaggerated, struggles of a working dad learning to manage a household. This comedy can also easily resonate with families by turning everyday domestic struggles - like arguments over missing towels and household clutter - into recognizable comedic situations.
Throughout this family comedy, there are quite a few gags and moments that will have you laughing. There’s a moment in the movie where Nate forgot to soak a pot of oatmeal and ends up using a power drill to furiously get the dried oatmeal out that will really make you laugh - and hmm I wonder if that would actually work - just kidding!
There’s also a very funny moment where Nate tries to survive his wife’s business trip by implementing a corporate reward system he used on the Toyota showroom floor. The young girls who portray the three daughters really steal the show and the moment the
mother leaves and the girls and Nate are waving goodbye, the eldest daughter says, “Guess we’re on our own now: three orphans,” this moment alone really received a lot of laughs from the audience. The supporting cast of SNL’s Colin Host and former SNL member Will Forte also have a few scene-stealing moments, especially Forte, who plays who could very well be the worst roof repair guy ever.
A prominent theme in “The Breadwinner” is the importance of teamwork and recognizing that both parents play vital roles in the success and stability of a household. The movie’s overall narrative also examines how parents define their self-worth, pushing characters to find their purpose within the family unit rather than just their professional lives.
The family comedy “The Breadwinner” has drawn a sharp divide between critics and the general audience. While general audiences praise the movie’s wholesome, clean humor and heart, critics have largely panned it for relying on lazy, “dumb dad” stereotypes and a dated premise. And, yes, even though its premise can feel dated, “The Breadwinner” is still a very good fun time for the entire family!
Viewers can also appreciate that the movie is free from profanity and crass humor. Families have responded well to its low-stakes, feel-good message about the underappreciated work of parenting. And, also make sure to stay during the credits for a few stand-up bits from Bargatze himself!
Cast: Nate Bargatze (Nate Wilcox); Mandy Moore (Katie Wilcox); Colin Jost (Conor Ashford); Zach Cherry (Dan); Martin Herlihy (Peter); Kumail Nanjiani (Peyton); Stella Grace Fitzgerald (Gracie Wilcox); Birdie Borria (Hadley Wilcox); Charlotte Ann Tucker (Sam Wilcox); Brett Cullen (Walter Wilcox); Will Forte (Keegan)
Writer/director: Nate Bargatze (screenwriting movie debut); Dan Lagana (writer) (Netflix’s The Babysitter: Killer Queen; Eric Appel (director)
MPA: Rated PG for some mild suggestive references (runtime 99 minutes)
Make sure to keep on checking my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook to see some fun trivia bits on the movies that I check out and also a bonus review here and there that you can only find on Facebook! Also, here is a look at what I have planned for my review slate for the June 17 edition: “Scary Movie,” “Countdown” (recent release 2019), “Ocean’s Eleven” (special Dietrich showings for its 25th anniversary; Rewind Series), “Zoolander” (Rewind Series 25th anniversary) and “Rat Race” (Rewind Series 25th anniversary).
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