Magnolia To Release Dark Robin Williams Film, ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ For Late August

We placed “World’s Greatest Dad” — Bob Goldthwait’s politically incorrect black comedy about a father (Robin Williams) whose fake suicide note for his son turns him into a publishing sensation — on our list of 15-plus films you should see at Sundance 2009 earlier this year.

We didn’t fly out to Mormon country of course, but the premise did sound pretty great and reviews seemed to be mostly positive (though we’ll admit we didn’t see that many either way). Now Magnolia Pictures has picked up the U.S. distribution rights to the film and will be releasing it theatrically in late August according to The Wrap.

They’ll also be following the model set by the Magnolia film, “Two Lovers,” which released the film OnDemand weeks before it hit theaters, so the film could ostensibly be available in late July or early August.

The Wrap calls the film “delightfully raunchy and subversive” and seemingly gives it their unequivocal approval. “[The film] dares to turn personal tragedy into a punchline. Williams outshines all his performances in recent studio comedies, mainly because the material allows him the freedom to be subversive. But the movie doesn’t take an experimentally humorous route à la the Coen brothers or stay consistently gross in the vein of the Farrellys. Instead, it applies a twisted premise to a seemingly innocuous dramedy about family ties, and therein lies its appeal.”

We’re looking forward to it. Here’s deeper context at the film’s Sundance page.