Reel Critic:

A Robin Williams comedy is usually a safe bet for the family. Although he has appeared in several dramatic films of note, including his Oscar turn in “Good Will Hunting,” his comedic roles of late have been mostly successful commercially but largely forgettable.

The safety net has certainly been taken away for Williams’ latest role in “World’s Greatest Dad.” Williams plays Lance Clayton, a high school poetry teacher who has failed at nearly everything. Lance is a frustrated author who has submitted hundreds of poems, articles and novels to publishers with absolutely no success. Lance has an overwhelming desire to be heard and relishes the money and adulation that comes with fame.

Lance is divorced and has primary custody of his 15-year-old son Kyle (Daryl Sabara), a loathsome ingrate who casts derision on virtually everything and seems to be a budding sexual deviant. Kyle has one solitary friend, Andrew (Evan Martin), a vegan abandoned by his father and ignored by an alcoholic mother. Even Andrew is put off by Kyle’s perverse sexuality but continues the association primarily because he has no other friends. Kyle, also a student at the school where Lance teaches, is about to be expelled for his behavior and poor academic record.

The one bright spot in Lance’s life is his schoolboy type romance with fellow teacher Claire (Alexie Gilmore). Claire seems to be attracted to Lance at first but wants to keep their relationship secret from the school where they are both employed. Claire’s attention seems to wane when she takes an interest in Mike (Henry Simmons), another teacher at the school.

Lance’s life is turned upside down when he finds Kyle dead at their home. Mortified that his son killed himself practicing autoerotic asphyxiation, Lance stages the death scene to look like a suicide by hanging. To complete the staging, Lance writes a suicide note and stuffs it in Kyle’s pocket.

The ruse is successful and Lance eventually returns to work. However, a student hacks into the police department website and publishes Kyle’s suicide note in the school’s newspaper. Touched by the eloquent and heartfelt sentiment in the note, the students, faculty, and staff rally around Lance and lionize Kyle. Lance is so flattered by this long-delayed acclaim that he concocts a journal that he attributes to Kyle that is eventually published.

As is evident by the setup, “World’s Greatest Dad” is an extremely dark comedy. The film is rated R for language, crude and sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images.

Accordingly, it is certainly not for everyone. This is an adult story line and is truly unsuitable for any child except perhaps very mature teenagers.

Nonetheless it is well acted and director-writer Bobcat Goldthwait has fashioned an entertaining if somewhat disturbing film.

“World’s Greatest Dad” is not due to be released in theaters until Aug. 21. However, it is available as an early screening via on-demand from your cable or satellite television provider.

This is a rare opportunity to preview a fairly major film with some memorable performances. On-demand releases are becoming more commonplace and will perhaps be the distribution method of choice for independent films in the future.

VAN NOVACK is the assistant vice president of institutional research and assessment at Cal State Long Beach and lives in Huntington Beach with his wife, Elizabeth.