Father of Invention

An Anchor Bay Entertainment relieve a Pangea Media presentation from the Sunrise Films, Jonathan Krane Film Organization, Pangea Media, Horizon Entertainment production in colaboration with Trigger Street Prods. Produced by Ken Barbet, Jason Sciavicco, Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey, Kia Jam, Jonathan D. Krane. Executive producers, Stefan Jacobs, Simon M. J. Horsman, D. Scott Lumpkin, Sergei Bespalov, Mark Manuel, Jordan Yospe, Gary Raskin, Jared Ian Goldman, Rita Benson LeBlanc, Brendan McDonald, David Bergstein, Ron Tutor. Directed by Trent Cooper. Script, Jonathan D. Krane, Cooper.With: Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle, Louise Graham, Virginia Madsen, Johnny Knoxville, John Stamos, Anna Anissimova, Craig Robinson.Clear exposition and inadequacies in imagination or wit stall "Father of Invention" at first gate. The would-be comedy stars Kevin Spacey just like a charming fabricator of dual-purpose products who emerges from an eight-year prison stint sans millions, home, vehicle, wife or daughter. Louise Graham sparks some welcome flashes of humor and genuine interaction, nevertheless the pic never shakes off its creaky buildup until late in your house stretch. Anchor Bay release opens March. 14 and seems unlikely to improve its limited run. Pic opens getting a revved-up infomercial through which Robert Axel (Spacey) pitches products with a very passionate audience within the high-rise corporate headquarters. Nevertheless the film's comic tone seems off, the grandiosity in the spiel neither ingenious enough to look clever nor absurd enough to produce laughs. Indeed, throughout, helmer Trent Cooper ("Ray the Cable Guy: Health Inspector") waffles between heroic and comic visions of his protagonist right after the scene of his triumphant reign come images of his subsequent fall, as Axel exits the slammer searching as being a extended-haired bum. In case your brontosaurus-created nightlight/humidifier or possibly a combined camera/pepper-sprayer made Axel a beloved household title, his ab-cruncher/funnel-surfer/accidental finger-chopper switched it in to a synonym for infamy. Following his release, Axel visits his ex-wife (Virginia Madsen), a would-be chanteuse whose reliance on fame is matched up track of one inadequate talent. She ranks as just the first in the extended line of folks that have are selling his fall. Such is not the problem along with his daughter, Claire (a stylish but somewhat bland Camilla Belle), whose love he sacrificed to his workaholic megalomania. Axel's path to redemption soon becomes apparent: She must restore the affection of his daughter and re-establish the need for his work -- because order, natch. As Axel struggles to rebuild his daughter's trust and also the brilliant career, he ropes in old and new acquaintances, all whom are reborn through their interactions with him. His daughter's two roomies (Graham and Anna Anissimova) are amazingly "cured" of lesbianism and insecurity, correspondingly, and numerous used little people achieve stretch their wings and assume their rightful places in society. Axel themselves appears poised to revive his kingdom, until an egregious bit of moral rug-yanking. Pic really gathers some momentum, if little credibility, since it sweeps toward its conclusion, its awkwardly established elements finally coalescing getting a means of calculating technical ease.Camera (color, widescreen), Steve Yedlin editor, Louise Persons music, Nick Urata music supervisor, Mary Ramos production designer, Ernest T. Garrity costume designers, Johanna Argan, Molly Elizabeth Grundman appear (Dolby Digital), Gabriel J. Serrano supervisory appear editor, Javier Bennasssar appear designer, Bennassar re-recording mixer, Chris David casting, Mary Vernieu, Venus Kanani. Examined on DVD, NY, March. 10, 2011. (This Season Berlin Film Festival -- Panorama.) Running time: 93 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com