🔍 Overview: What Is Like Father Like Son About?
Set in 1990 Richmond, California, Like Father Like Son attempts to explore the notion that murderous tendencies can be passed through bloodlines. The story revolves around Eli McKinnon (played by Dylan Flashner), who witnesses his father Gabe (Dermot Mulroney) commit a brutal murder. After Gabe is swiftly convicted and sent to death row, Eli is left to confront whether he, too, is destined for the same violent path.
Unfortunately, what could have been a compelling psychological exploration becomes a shallow, illogical mess that relies more on clichés than storytelling.
🎬 Film Execution: Where It All Falls Apart
✖️ Weak Script & Predictable Plot
The screenplay is the film’s greatest downfall. It sets up a high-stakes scenario only to squander every opportunity for character development or suspense. Dialogues feel forced and unnatural, and scenes meant to provoke tension come off as laughable or absurd.
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✖️ Poor Acting Performances
Despite casting veterans like Dermot Mulroney, performances are wooden and overacted. Dylan Flashner struggles to bring any emotional complexity to Eli, and even Mayim Bialik’s appearance as a court-appointed counselor feels like a miscast cameo rather than a meaningful role.
✖️ Confusing Moral Message
One of the most troubling aspects of this movie is its simplistic take on generational violence. The suggestion that murder is inevitable due to DNA is not only scientifically dubious but also ethically irresponsible in its portrayal. This isn’t thought-provoking; it’s just poorly thought-out.
🔥 Plot Summary (Spoiler Alert)
- Eli reunites with his estranged father Gabe, only to witness him murder a high school bully in a fit of rage.
- Gabe is quickly convicted and placed on death row.
- Eli struggles financially and emotionally in the aftermath.
- His court-appointed counselor suggests he might be genetically predisposed to violence.
- Eli meets a runaway teen named Hailey (Ariel Winter), who is later attacked.
- In a mirror of his father’s act, Eli responds with shocking brutality, seemingly confirming the film’s defeatist premise.
âś… What Does Work (Barely)
- Runtime: At just under 90 minutes, the film doesn’t overstay its welcome—though even this short duration feels like a stretch.
- Ariel Winter: Offers a flicker of emotional range, but she’s not given enough material to shine.
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