Dorathen Better Late Then Never

DubyaHan The movie is wildly uneven but lively and timely - in its own surreal way

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

mozli I can't give it a ten because they could have gotten someone better than Susan St. James but I enjoyed this film when I saw it in theaters many moons ago. Michael Schultz has never gotten his due as a director and this is another example of that. The surface story of an absentee father finally owing up to his son is quite good and rings true. I find the subplot of a affluent guy brought down to earth through circumstance prophetic of how America has went through similar change over the last 25 years. This movie wasn't very well liked when it came out I believe because it didn't pull punches in that regard. There was no magic bullet to solve their problems. It took time and work for the father and son to come to an understanding. I've always kinda wished Denzel and George would work together again. They had good chemistry together.

lacostenotary I liked this movie and found it to be very funny. I watched it as a kid and have looked for it ever since. I first found the VHS tape in Savons and later the DVD in Circuit City.The movie demonstrated that even though society supposedly changed their view on Blacks, there were still racial undertones. These racial undertones were a reminder that being Black or labeled as family or friend of Blacks wasn't acceptable on an equal level. The film tells the story of a predominately wealthy White man who rose to wealth because he married into it. Then his quick demise because he chose to accept an illegitimate Black son. He was supposedly very much in love with the mother of his son but didn't want to marry her because she was black and it would be bad for business. The film showed how he had to adjust to the lack of support from family, friend and viewed things from the other side of the tracks. It was funny that through out most of the movie he was being a wimp and suffered for it. Then towards the end learns some things about himself.Denzel Washington's character was funny because of his quick witty responses and view point of the real world even before the father realized things. Also, towards the end his character had more depth than at first realized.The movie was very informative about the 1980s racial and social environment. The comedy presented things in a funny manner in which to explain the stereotypes and their effects on the characters. It was funny to the audience and will create dialog and discussions long afterwords.

tfrizzell White corporation man George Segal gets a rude awakening when he finds out that he has an illegitimate son who happens to be black (our first real theatrical look at Hollywood icon Denzel Washington). Naturally Segal's Beverly Hills life turns topsy-turvy with wife Susan Saint James and father-in-law Jack Warden complicating the situation by forcing Segal into a life of degradation and poverty with usually hilarious results. Pure early-1980s fluff here as Washington puts that bright smile of his on and steals every scene from veteran Segal. Segal though does an admirable job and feeds off the film effectively. Ultimately though the substance is lacking and the typical comedic situations eventually end up being predictable and sometimes stale. The late drama also feels forced and somewhat unnecessary. Still a watchable piece of entertainment for its two leads. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

David Nicholson This was a great script and a good performance. It had a tendency to exaggerate stereotypes, but it did provide a humorous look at how people can be dominated and controlled by corporate power, and the will power and determination it takes to break that control.