Father of Invention (2011)

0% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
28% of users liked it
(1,943 ratings)

Millionaire infomercial guru, Robert Axle (Kevin Spacey) loses everything when one of his inventions has a design flaw that accidentally chops off the fingers of thousands of customers. After serving eight years in prison, a disgraced Axle is released, and ready to redeem his name and rebuild his… More Millionaire infomercial guru, Robert Axle (Kevin Spacey) loses everything when one of his inventions has a design flaw that accidentally chops off the fingers of thousands of customers. After serving eight years in prison, a disgraced Axle is released, and ready to redeem his name and rebuild his empire with a new innovation. However, Axle's ex-wife (Virginia Madsen) has spent all of his money and moved into his house with her new husband (Craig Robinson). Out of desperation, he finds a part-time job as a janitor, and is forced to move in with his estranged daughter (Camilla Belle) and her over-protective roommates. Despite these setbacks he is determined to pitch his newest gadget and rebuild his infomercial empire. But the world has changed in the last decade, and Axle finds himself out of step with current technology, his family, and the self-confidence that made him king of the infomercials in the past. With all his wheels spinning, Axle soon realizes before he can be successful with his new creation, first he must reinvent himself. -- (C) Anchor Bay

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Trent Cooper
Written By: Trent Cooper, Jonathan D. Krane
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 14, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Oct 25, 2011
Studio: Anchor Bay Films

Critic Reviews

Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Highly predictable...
, New York Daily News
Like Graham and Madsen, Spacey too often gets lost in smaller projects that aren't worthy of his talents. He, and his costars, deserve a more inventive movie than this one.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The screenplay, by Mr. Cooper and Jonathan D. Krane, is so sketchy that it feels like a hastily executed first draft.
Anthony Venutolo, Newark Star-Ledger
The film promises a nasty little satire for a while but finally goes soft and self-pitying.
Ronnie Scheib, Variety
Colorless exposition and a lack of imagination or wit stall Father of Invention at the starting gate.
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
The rather unappealing character of Axel is indulged with every opportunity for redemption, as Spacey is indulged with every opportunity to showboat.
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, Ebert Presents At The Movies
Though it's got a few good ideas going for it, Father of Invention doesn't seem to know what kind of movie it wants to be.
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Awful Kevin Spacey comedy has strong language, no laughs.
Tim Grierson, Screen International
Kevin Spacey gives a typically soulful performance, but otherwise the film falls far short of being as inventive or confident as its main character.
Eric Hynes, Time Out New York
For all its eagerness to please, you'd think Father of Invention could come up with at least one sister of independence.
Brent Simon, Shockya.com
A weird and fitfully fresh comedy with a name-heavy cast that almost methodically fumbles away a viewer's engagement, leaving them with thoughts of what could have been.
Ethan Alter, Television Without Pity
In trying to send audiences out of the theater uplifted, Father of Invention instead leaves us sadly shaking our heads about how much better the movie could have been.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A floundering comedy with banal messages about putting family first.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
An effort drawn to mediocrity, ignoring wonderful comedic opportunities to make yet another relationship story between a humiliated father and his distrustful daughter.
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
Wears its convictions about deception, creativity, and the importance of being a really good daddy on its shopworn sleeves.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast:Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle, Heather Graham, Virginia Madsen, John Stamos, Michael Rosenbaum, Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, Rhoda Griffis, Anna Anissimova Director:Trent Cooper Summary: Robert Axle (Kevin Spacey) is a humble, if eccentric, genius whose flair for… More
Cast:Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle, Heather Graham, Virginia Madsen, John Stamos, Michael Rosenbaum, Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, Rhoda Griffis, Anna Anissimova Director:Trent Cooper Summary: Robert Axle (Kevin Spacey) is a humble, if eccentric, genius whose flair for invention catapults him to fame, fortune and insufferable egomania, until a terrible incident involving one of his creations brings him crashing back to earth and into prison. Nearly a decade later, Axle is released, and he's determined to rehabilitate his reputation and rebuild his fortune. First, he has to convince his daughter that he's worthy of a second chance. My Thoughts: "A nice daughter and father dramedy. Not the best I've seen come from Kevin Spacey, but being a huge fan I'm down to watch anything he is in. I thought he did great with the material he was given. The relationship between Robert Axle and his daughter Claire is rough but has it's sweet spots. I actually really liked Heather Graham in the movie. She was very funny. Johnny Knoxville does great playing Oswald, a bit of an annoying character, but yet funny as well. Truthfully the movie really wasn't that funny, it was more of a drama to me, but it had it's moments. Worth seeing at least once."
Dann M

Father of Invention is an interesting drama that's fairly entertaining. With a story about redemption and second chances, the film follows a former inventor who tries to reconnect with his family and rebuild his life. The casting is pretty good, and includes Kevin Spacey,… More
Father of Invention is an interesting drama that's fairly entertaining. With a story about redemption and second chances, the film follows a former inventor who tries to reconnect with his family and rebuild his life. The casting is pretty good, and includes Kevin Spacey, Camille Belle, Heather Graham, and Craig Robinson. The story takes a few twists, and not always for the good, but when all's said and done it ends up being rather conventional. While most of Father of Invention is mediocre, it has a lot of fun and is pretty entertaining.
Panta O

I am not sure what to say... someone wrote that ""Father of Invention" proves strikingly uninventive" and that summarizes the lot! Doesn't matter how good Kevin Spacey was, or the impressive cast including Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, and Virginia… More
I am not sure what to say... someone wrote that ""Father of Invention" proves strikingly uninventive" and that summarizes the lot! Doesn't matter how good Kevin Spacey was, or the impressive cast including Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, and Virginia Madsen... even they could not save such a bad screenplay and shaky directing by Trent Cooper! It was watchable but even after finishing watching it, you'll still feel empty like in the middle of it... it was a movie about nothing special... actually I could not even say what was the movie about... sorry... some kind of relationship fixing or something like that as I could guess?! Don't waste time!
Jeffrey M

Father of Invention is a deeply flawed, weird, and an overall mess of a movie. The writing is horrendous, having no idea what itsâ(TM) trying to be. The satire is childish and silly, the comedy is flat and bland, as is most of the acting (save Spacey, who tries, but canâ(TM)t rise… More
Father of Invention is a deeply flawed, weird, and an overall mess of a movie. The writing is horrendous, having no idea what itsâ(TM) trying to be. The satire is childish and silly, the comedy is flat and bland, as is most of the acting (save Spacey, who tries, but canâ(TM)t rise above the material. The film has no sense of direction or purpose, itâ(TM)s just a weird blend of poorly executed nonsense.
Sarah P

Kevin Spacey could pretty much do anything and I would like it. I thought there would be more to this movie, but for what it was, I enjoyed.

Cast

            Kevin Spacey as Robert Axle

            Heather Graham as Fibbi

            Camilla Belle as Claire

            Virginia Madsen as Gummi

            Johnny Knoxville as Oswald

            Anna Anissimova as Donna

            John Stamos as Steven Leslie

            Craig Robinson as Jerry King

            Red West as Sam Bergman

            Michael Rosenbaum as Eddie the Ex

            Danny Comden as Matt James

            Jack McGee as Parole Officer

            Marc Macaulay as General Store Clerk

            Morgan Saylor as Young Claire (12)

            Karen Kaia Livers as Maria

            Zachary Foppe as Customer at Familymart

            George Cooper as Handball Kid

            Lara Grice as Mom in Park

            Suehyla El-Attar as Shop Girl

            Sofia Spadoni as Lily

            Julia LaShae as Lily's Mother

            Marel Medina as Stock Boy

            Jason Davis as Neil

            Kristen Shaw as Bank Teller

            Walt Elder as Harold

            Audra Marie as Business Man's Date

            Joe Nemmers as Business Man

            Rhoda Griffis as Penny Camp

            Brett Rice as Howard Camp

            Randy Austin as Security Guard

            Mary-Charles Jones as Young Claire (6)

            Tina Parker as Steak

            Sam Best as Mailbox Patron

            Mary Elizabeth Cobb as Sheila

            Leon Gisclair as Andre

            Carol Sutton as Bingo Caller

            Kim Holden as News Anchor

            Tiffany Morgan as Mother (Infomercial)
See full cast