Magnolia Has "World's Greatest Dad"

A scene from director Bobcat Goldthwait's American Spectrum film, "World's Greatest Dad." Image courtesy of Sundance Film Festival

The Wrap is reporting that Magnolia Pictures has acquired the rights to Bobcat Goldthwait's Sundance entry "World's Greatest Dad." The film - starring Robin Williams as a single high school teacher who exploits his teenage son's suicide - will be released by Magnolia on VOD prior to a theatrical release in late August, similar to the way the distributor release February's "Two Lovers."

Eric Kohn spoke to Goldthwait for The Wrap. "I'm not afraid they're going to market it as a family comedy," Goldthwait told him. "That would be the biggest mistake." Kohn notes that he is friendly with Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles and "trusts his judgement". "Over the years, I have received his input," Goldthwait says. "At this point in my life, I just want to work with people I like."

Kohn coincidentally also wrote a review of "Dad" for indieWIRE when it screened at Sundance. "Obscene in concept and execution, the movie functions as a highly subversive anti-morality tale disguised as a mainstream laughfest," Kohn wrote of the film. "[It] works wonderfully as a rich black comedy willing to reach into virtually unprecedented territory to both offend, enrage and finally entertain its theoretical audience."

This comes after a week of Sundance '09 pickups, including Overture's acquisition of "Paper Heart" and Elephant Eye taking "The Maid" .

"I Love You Phillip Morris," "Motherhood," "We Live In Public" and "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men" remain some of the relatively few titles that remain unacquired out of the festival.