Dads

Gentle and heartwarming. Studded with nuggets of wisdom about fatherhood, including several doled out by celebrities (Will Smith, Ron Howard, Hasan Minhaj, Jimmy Kimmel, and many others). Loved the diversity in the family stories Bryce Dallas Howard gives us, e.g. a gay couple, an unmarried couple, stay at home dads in Brazil and Japan, etc. It's also a deeply personal work, as she shows us her grandfather, father, and brother. The stories of sacrifice and connection are moving, and it's a reminder of the priorities in life.

Loved this line from Conan O'Brien, he cracks me up: "If I'm the expert, this whole project is in terrible trouble. So please tell me you've got better people coming in."

I originally started to watch this documentary thinking it would be an insiders look into the fatherhood of various celebrities, and while there are quips from many I was surprised to find that the meat of the documentary was instead a look into various everyday fathers from around the world. All in all I would recommend watching this with an open heart, because there are moments where you can feel these men's love and pride for their children. I definitely got emotional at times (although this could've stemmed from lacking a good connection with my own dad) and felt happy for my own future in parenthood.

Simple little film about dads. I thought it was going to be celebrity dads - Will Smith, Conan O'Brien, Neil Patrick Harris, etc. - but they get fairly little screen time as they make zingers about fatherhood. But the meat of the doc is a quintet of less famous dads in various circumstances around the world, talking about the joys and challenges of raising kids. There are a lot of tears in the movie, and dads (including this one) may find themselves tearing up a bit as well.

" One reviewer trashed the movie because they thought it was honoring fathers at the expense of mothers. That is like saying a documentary about England is bad because it doesn't discuss France. This is a movie born out of love and it shows. Yes, it had an over-abundance of rich articulate celebrities, but the segments spotlighting authentic, struggling fathers were the real heart of the film. I've never seen so many men crying in one place and I must admit, I shed a few tears myself. When one little guy who had undergone several heart surgeries and therapies told his Dad, "I love you with all my fixed-up heart," my heart grew 2 sizes, just like the Grinch.

Another documentary on Apple Plus, "Dads" is the directorial debut of Bryce Dallas-Howard.

Starting with her own father, Bryce Dallas-Howard interviews a number of actors and comedians about their thoughts and feelings on being a father. Those soundbite style interviews intersperse with several longer stories from various fathers around the world, about their lives and how parenthood has changed them.

I am a dad, so some aspects of the films did really speak to me - especially the stories about the difficult birth and having children with complex needs, as I've experienced both of those. I liked the soundbite interviews, the humorous anecdotes and the moments of touching honesty when the various celebrities broke down a little. It was nice to see some family stuff related to the Howards, the (slightly weird) videos they made for each child and the interviews with her brother as he was preparing to become a dad for the first time. There was a diverse range of situations from the different subjects, but perhaps showing a universal theme of it being time for Dad's to take a more central role in bringing up children and that there shouldn't be any more taboos about that situation.

I say all this, because ultimately, I felt that as a documentary it was a bit slight. It was charming, and funny but didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. I've no regrets about watching it, but I can't imagine I'll ever have the inclination to watch it again.